Labour Ministry lists over 20 unregistered agencies

By Peter Ochieng

The Ministry of Labour led by Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua has shared a list of over 20 unregistered private employment agencies.

The list was shared through the National Employment Authority (NEA), with Kenyans being urged to remain vigilant.

“We wish to inform the general public and job-seekers that the following Private Employment Agencies are not registered by the Authority, and are therefore not authorised to undertake any recruitment activities for local (Kenyan) or foreign labour markets,” the statement reads.

The ‘26 man list’ consists First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Limited, a company associated with one Judy Chepchirchir.

She has been in the news for months on end since 2022, after some residents of Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County accused her of allegedly defrauding them of millions of shillings through her recruitment agency.

They were promised employment opportunities in Australia, Poland, Dubai, and Finland among other countries, but it never came to pass.

Full list of unregistered private employment agencies:

Gulfway Recruitment Company Ltd

Royal Capital Placement Ltd

Geoverah Agency Ltd

Geoverah Africa Safaris Ltd

Daawo Holdings Ltd

Makungu International Ltd

Talent Getaway Ltd

Royal Capital Placement Ltd

Jakarta Ventures Ltd

Skill Dove Ltd

Gifted Minds Tours Travel Ltd

First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Limited

Tangofox Limited

Alemtyaz Travel Agent Limited

Rhodevo International Limited

Flexturch Recruitment Limited

Omran Aly Agencies Limited

Alsari International Limited

Leisamis Recruiters Limited

Skyward Global Dimensions Recruiters Limited

Kalezon Limited

Abamwe Investments Limited

Mastermind Ventures Limited

Broadlink Travels Agency Limited

Arshad Agency Limited

Kistamu Agency Limited

This week, human rights activist Kimutai Kirui referred to Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County as 'City of fraudsters,’ over the increase of unlicensed travel agencies allegedly exploiting residents.

Kirui revealed that nearly 90% of the agencies lack accreditation from the National Employment Authority (NEA).

"We have travel agencies in nearly every building, with some recruiting over a thousand people but only sending a fraction abroad," Kirui said, pointing to what he termed as rampant corruption and inefficiency within the system.

He demanded an overhaul of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), accusing officers in Eldoret of reportedly fostering impunity by blocking prosecutions through bribery.