NAIROBI, Kenya – The government has cautioned Kenyans against travelling abroad on tourist visas in search of employment, warning that the practice exposes job seekers to exploitation, financial loss, and deportation.
Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime said a rising number of Kenyans are falling victim to fraudulent recruitment schemes that promise overseas jobs through tourist or visit visas.
“I want to warn young Kenyans that getting a tourist visa does not guarantee you a job in the international labour market. Only a work permit guarantees you legitimate employment,” Mwadime said in Canada, where he is leading a delegation to scout for structured job opportunities under bilateral arrangements.
The PS said the visit aims to identify official employment opportunities available through the Canadian government and reputable employers to create safer, government-backed pathways for Kenyan workers.
“Rather than being cheated by people who steal your money, we should build official channels that allow Kenyans to access jobs safely and legally,” he added.
Crackdown on Fraudulent Recruiters
Mwadime warned recruitment agencies against conning unsuspecting Kenyans through false advertisements, particularly on social media.
He said the Labour Ministry will take action against agencies that mislead job seekers or operate without proper authorisation.
“We do not want Kenyans to be duped or conned out of their hard-earned money by bogus agencies. Some place fake adverts and deceive our young people about job opportunities abroad that do not exist,” he said.
The government, he added, is strengthening regulation and monitoring of recruitment firms to ensure all overseas employment arrangements are transparent, ethical, and beneficial to Kenyan workers.
Structured Labour Partnerships with Canada
During his tour, Mwadime held high-level meetings in several Canadian provinces, including Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Ontario, to expand formal labour mobility partnerships between Kenya and Canada.
At a trucking firm in Winnipeg, the PS announced that at least 100 Kenyan drivers and mechanics will soon be recruited under the new bilateral labour framework.
In Halifax, he oversaw the signing of an agreement between the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick (PANB) and the Kenyan government to enhance paramedic training and job placement.
The partnership, based on the World Bank’s Global Skills Partnerships model, will train Kenyan youth for both domestic and international healthcare roles while adhering to World Health Organization standards for ethical recruitment.
The delegation also visited the Nova Scotia Community College to explore collaboration in skills training, certification alignment, and student credential recognition.
Diaspora Investment Incentives
Mwadime further revealed that the government is developing an incentive package, including possible tax holidays, to encourage Kenyans working abroad to invest back home.
“We desire to come up with packages for Kenyans as they work abroad by ensuring that we give tax holidays so that their investments yield the highest possible returns,” he said.
He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to expanding structured, dignified, and well-regulated labour mobility programmes that protect Kenyan workers while meeting labour needs in partner countries.
“Our focus is on creating dignified, well-regulated opportunities that benefit both Kenyan workers and the economies we partner with,” Mwadime said.
