CS Mutua refutes claims of stranded Kazi Majuu applicants from Coast region

Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua has dismissed claims that Kenyans recruited under the Kazi Majuu initiative at the Coast are stranded and unable to travel abroad.

The CS clarified that out of 500 people recruited and funded by the government, 300 have already travelled, while 121 are awaiting departure. He added that 84 of them already hold visas and are set to travel soon.

He, however, noted that most applicants are not passing the drug tests, which hinders them from securing visas.

“Some of these people who are claiming they have not travelled, they were conned, also need to go and do personal medical check-ups,” Mutua noted.

Addressing journalists in Machakos on Wednesday, the CS warned of rogue recruitment agencies, revealing that 600 have been deregistered in the past year.

He cited one company accused of conning Kenyans by collecting money and has since been summoned by the DCI to record a statement.

“There are others who have been misbehaving, and we are making sure that we de-register them. Every year, there is a number we are not renewing their licenses, and the number is increasing, and people are starting to shape up,” he said.

Mutua further noted that many applicants are missing out on opportunities due to failing drug tests, urging Kenyans to maintain clean health records to avoid disqualification.

Dr. Mutua expressed optimism that by 2026, the government will facilitate more than 200 Kenyans to secure overseas jobs.

“Next year we align ourselves properly, we will get many Kenyans to travel overseas and get them a good life,” he noted.

He said at least 490 have already benefited since the Kazi Majuu program began.

It has, however, been dogged with flaws as the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare launched an investigation into the controversial project in April following allegations that some recruitment agencies scammed Kenyan job seekers out of millions of shillings.

So far, Kenyan youths have been sent to work in Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, among other places.

Kazi Majuu is one of the initiatives by the Kenya Kwanza administration to reduce the unemployment menace in Kenya.