By Caroline Katana
Kwale County residents have been urged to use official government channels when seeking employment abroad to avoid exploitation by illegal recruitment agents.
This call was made during a two-day Diaspora Mashinani sensitization forum held at Diani forest lodge and Tsimba Social Hall, bringing together national and county government representatives, civil society groups, and residents to discuss safe labour migration and the protection of migrant workers.
The forum, spearheaded by the State Department for Diaspora Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aimed to empower communities with knowledge about ethical recruitment and migrant workers’ rights.
The initiative is part of a national campaign to take diaspora education to the grassroots, ensuring that vulnerable group’s especially young people, are informed before seeking overseas opportunities.
According to Mumina Alaso from the Women of Faith Network, Kilifi County, many Kenyans continue to fall prey to unscrupulous agents who promise lucrative jobs abroad but end up subjecting them to suffering and abuse.
“Most of our children go through unbearable hardships once they travel because they use unauthorized routes and fake agents. This forum was meant to help families understand the right procedures so that if anything goes wrong, the government can step in to assist,” she said.
She called on the government to intensify crackdowns on rogue recruitment agencies, saying too many young Kenyans have lost their lives or endured inhumane working conditions in foreign countries.
“It’s time for the government to take tough legal action against those who profit from exploiting our youth,” she added.
Amina Musau, a Kwale resident who attended the two-day training, said the discussions had opened her eyes to the realities of illegal labour migration.
She noted that many families in rural areas lacked basic information about safe migration procedures.
“We’ve always assumed that anyone who claims to be a recruitment agent is genuine, but we’ve now learned that fake agents exist and that they are the cause of many tragedies facing our youth abroad,” she said.
Musau recounted a disturbing story of a young woman who was locked in a toilet. For two days by her employer in a foreign country.
She was later rescued and found another job, but still faced pressure from a new employer who tried to lure her into sex work.
“These are the untold stories of suffering our children face in search of greener pastures. Through this training, we’ve learned how to identify safe recruitment channels and will spread this awareness to other parents,” she added.
She also praised the Kazi Majuu program, introduced by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua, saying it offers a safer and more transparent process for Kenyans seeking jobs abroad.
Representing the Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Jennifer Wanami said the government is committed to ensuring all Kenyans working abroad are protected under bilateral agreements and verified contracts.
“This forum brought together stakeholders and residents to raise awareness, especially in rural areas where most violations occur due to a lack of information. When people know their rights, they can avoid being exploited.” She noted.
Wanami highlighted that before deployment, all employment contracts are vetted to confirm their legitimacy, including provisions for insurance, off days, and benefits.
“Our embassies verify every job offer and ensure that each worker’s details are recorded so that they can be assisted in case of distress,” she added.
She said the Diaspora Policy 2024 outlines measures for protecting Kenyans abroad, including students, business people, and investors, and called on residents seeking jobs abroad. To share accurate information with local leaders within their communities, creating a safe environment for assistance in case of any challenge.
“We are taking the Diaspora Mashinani forums to every corner of the country. The aim is to ensure no Kenyan travels blindly. Safe migration begins with awareness,” she said.
Kwale County Commissioner, Stephen Orinde
Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde commended the initiative, saying it aligns with the government’s vision of creating over one million safe jobs annually through ethical migration and foreign employment.
“This is about safeguarding the dreams of our youth, too many have fallen victim to human trafficking and exploitation simply because they lacked information. As a government, we are determined to ensure every Kenyan who travels abroad does so safely and with dignity,” he said.
He urged young people to embrace government-approved labour migration programs and maintain discipline while working overseas.
“We advise our youth to verify every recruitment process and keep close contact with embassies and government offices, and report any form of mistreatment immediately because we can only help where we know,” he added.
Orinde also pledged to expand the Diaspora Mashinani awareness campaigns across all sub-counties in Kwale to ensure that no community is left behind in the fight against labour exploitation.
The Diaspora Mashinani initiative is part of Kenya’s wider plan to promote safe, transparent, and well-regulated labour migration.
It complements President William Ruto’s employment creation agenda, ensuring that Kenyans working abroad are protected and that their contributions to national development are recognized.
