Authorities have arrested two individuals in Mombasa for operating an overseas job recruitment agency without the required legal licence. The arrests were made following an intelligence-led operation targeting fraudulent recruitment practices in the coastal city.
The suspects were apprehended at a premises in Makadara, where their company, Al-Wajib Investments Ltd, was conducting business from a residential building. Investigators discovered that the agency was functioning without a valid licence from the National Employment Authority (NEA), the body mandated to regulate employment agencies in Kenya.
A search of the office led to the recovery of several incriminating items, including an expired NEA registration certificate, agency registers, a receipt book, and an official company stamp. All these items were seized as evidence to support the case against the two suspects.
The individuals, identified as the directors of the firm, are currently in custody as legal proceedings are being prepared. They are expected to be arraigned in court to face charges related to running an unlicensed overseas recruitment agency, a crime punishable under Kenyan law.
The arrests highlight growing concerns over the rise of illegal agencies taking advantage of desperate job seekers. Many Kenyans have fallen victim to fraudulent recruitment schemes, often losing large sums of money with the promise of jobs abroad that never materialise. In some cases, victims have been trafficked or subjected to inhumane working conditions overseas after being lured by unlicensed operators.
Authorities have reiterated their warning to the public against dealing with unverified agencies. Citizens seeking employment opportunities abroad are advised to confirm the legitimacy of recruitment firms directly through the National Employment Authority. Only those duly accredited are authorised to place Kenyan workers in foreign employment.
The National Police Service has further assured the public that it is intensifying operations to dismantle illegal recruitment networks across the country. Those found violating the law will be prosecuted, and victims are encouraged to report suspicious agencies or recruitment offers to the police for immediate action.
This crackdown is part of broader efforts by the government to protect Kenyan citizens from exploitation and to ensure that overseas employment opportunities are managed transparently and legally.
