NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested three Ministry of Labour officials stationed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for allegedly extorting agents processing migrant workers travelling to the Middle East.
The arrest, carried out on 30 November 2025, followed a report alleging that the officers routinely demanded bribes — reportedly Sh500 per worker — before clearing migrants for departure.
According to the Commission, surveillance confirmed that the illegal payments had become a common requirement for agents facilitating overseas travel.
In an intelligence-led sting operation, EACC officers collaborated with an agent who was accompanying 78 migrant workers on the day of the operation. Upon engaging the officials manning the Labour booth, the officers allegedly demanded and received Sh34,000 after calculating the number of travellers.
“EACC investigators immediately moved in, arrested the suspects, and recovered the Sh34,000,” the Commission noted. The three officials were identified as Benson Ouma Okello, Esther Njoki Gakuru, and Denis Marias.
They were escorted to the Integrity Centre for processing and recording statements, and are expected to be released on a cash bail of Sh50,000 each pending further investigations.
The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of corruption within the labour migration chain, a sector already under pressure due to increasing reports of exploitation faced by Kenyan workers abroad.
Transparency advocates have raised concerns that corrupt practices at exit points expose migrant workers to greater vulnerability and undermine formal labour-migration safeguards.
The Commission said the operation reflects a broader push to curb bribery at public service points. “EACC reiterates its commitment to tackling bribery at service delivery points to restore public trust and improve access to quality services for all citizens,” the statement read.
Recent enforcement actions — including ongoing investigations involving senior officials at other regulatory agencies — indicate a renewed focus by the Commission on dismantling extortion networks that target investors and job-seekers.
The latest JKIA operation signals growing pressure on state agencies to strengthen integrity systems and protect migrant workers as the demand for overseas labour opportunities continues to rise.
