Kenyans leaving the country for diaspora jobs unaccounted for - NEA

This is according to the National Employment Authority (NEA), which says there is no coordination among government agencies on who is registering those seeking employment services outside the country.

Speaking when she appeared before the National Assembly’s Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers on Wednesday, NEA Director General Edith Okoki said they have already raised the issue with Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua to harmonize the process.

“Everyone right now is doing labour migration, even NYS is doing labour migration, and it's very confusing. As of now we don't even know how many Kenyans have gone out to look for work. We have brought to the attention of our CS to address the matter at that level. We believe there is a serious overlap on this issue,” Ms. Okoki told the committee.

This was after MPs raised issue with how Kenyans are leaving the country to different destinations without proper documentation with different government departments engaging in the exercise.

Kacheliba MP Titus Lotee wondered who is supposed to take responsibility if anything goes wrong with Kenyans traveling out of the country for work.

“’When we find a problem, where do we place the blame? Do we blame NEA, the ministry or different government departments engaging in this exercise?” He posed.

Ms. Okoki also revealed to the committee that they have been facing a difficult time regulating the industry due to some firms’ perceived close relation to the powers that be.

“The last two years have not been easy. Some of the people that we were having issues with had access to high offices...others, once deregistered would attempt to come back with different names,” she added.

The NEA boss told the committee that so far they have deregistered a total 20 recruitment agencies following increased cases of malpractice by the agencies meant to facilitate Kenyan job seekers’ travel abroad.

She said the agencies were flagged for their dubious dealings having collected funds from gullible youth with the promise of offering job opportunities abroad, only to negate on their promise.

Ms. Okoki said that Uasin Gishu County has particularly been a difficult area to regulate with some of the deregistered firms attempting to seek fresh registration using different names.

“When we closed First Choice, the owners tried to open a company called Royal Capital Placement but we denied them the certificate,” she disclosed.

The deregistered firms include Gulfway Recruitment company Ltd, Royal Capital Placement Ltd, Geoverah Africa Safaris Ltd, First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Ltd, Geoverah Agency Ltd.

Others are; Daawo Holdings Ltd, Makungu International Ltd, Talent Gateaway Ltd, Jakartya Ventures Ltd and Skill Dove Ltd.

The Lydia Haika-led committee however took issue with the DG for not making public the list of deregistered agencies arguing that the opaqueness in relaying of information could perpetuate the extortion of youth.