DCI Probes 390 Complaints Triggerring Arrests, Court Cases, and Public Warning

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Nairobi Kenya 

Key Highlights

Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), working with the Ministry of Labour, the Attorney General, and the DPP, has investigated 390 complaints linked to fraud in the Kazi Majuu labour mobility programme, with 15 cases already forwarded to the DPP for prosecution. Authorities warn that unregistered travel agents, cash payments to individuals, and travel on tourist visas have exposed thousands of jobseekers to fraud and trafficking, even as over 538,000 Kenyans have legally secured overseas employment under government-verified pathways.

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Kenya’s government has intensified its crackdown on fraudulent labour recruitment schemes under the Kazi Majuu programme, following widespread reports of young people being conned of millions of shillings by fake travel agencies and individuals posing as recruitment intermediaries.

Speaking during a joint press briefing, Chief Inspector Lea Mbiche of the DCI said a multi-agency task force formed on July 15, 2026, has so far received 390 complaints from victims who reported being defrauded while seeking overseas employment. Of these, 190 individuals appeared before the task force to give detailed accounts of how they lost money, often to non-existent or unregistered agencies.

Investigations have led to 15 completed case files being forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for review and approval to charge, while several suspects have already been arraigned in court. Mbiche explained that fraud investigations are forensic and court-driven, requiring judicial approval to access bank records, M-Pesa statements, and other financial evidence, which accounts for the pace of prosecutions.

The DCI revealed that at least 106 cases directly involve travel and recruitment agencies, some of which are not registered with either the National Employment Agency (NEA) or the Business Registration Service. In several cases, victims paid large sums—ranging from KSh 400,000 to over KSh 1 million—in cash to individuals who later disappeared.

Authorities cited notable court outcomes, including successful reimbursements to victims through small claims courts, while other cases involving charges of obtaining money by false pretence remain active. However, investigators raised concern over agencies that have obtained conservatory court orders, temporarily blocking arrests and investigations, a move the DCI says delays justice.

The task force also disclosed an ongoing probe into the alleged misuse of KSh 18 million disbursed by the Youth Fund to facilitate overseas employment. Two individuals—Vincent Omondi Oyugi and Rachel Joki Karioki—are wanted for questioning after allegedly failing to account for the funds meant to send young Kenyans to Dubai.

In a strong public advisory, the government urged jobseekers to avoid unregistered agents, reject “too good to be true” offers, and verify all overseas jobs through the NEA’s official platform. Kenyans were warned against paying money to individuals, sending funds via personal phone numbers, or travelling on tourist or visitor visas for employment—practices that expose them to trafficking and exploitation.

Despite the challenges, the Ministry of Labour reported significant progress in legitimate labour migration. Over 538,000 Kenyans have legally travelled abroad for work since the current administration took office, with between 450 and 500 departing daily under verified programmes. The government aims to scale this to up to one million beneficiaries annually, while shifting recruitment costs from jobseekers to employers.

Officials reiterated their commitment to dismantling labour fraud networks, protecting vulnerable youth, and ensuring that access to international employment opportunities is safe, transparent, and free from exploitation.

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