Job seekers who responded to Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua’s advertisement for motorcycle riders in Dubai have accused unknown individuals of demanding Sh200,000 bribes, sparking fresh questions about the authenticity of government-endorsed overseas employment opportunities.
The controversy erupted when a Kenyan using the handle @Eagern_KE on X exposed what he described as a fraudulent scheme targeting applicants who had attended interviews at the National Industrial Training Authority offices in Athi River between September 11 and 13.
On September 10, Dr Mutua had posted on his official X account advertising positions for male riders aged 21-38 to work in Dubai, with attractive monthly salaries ranging from AED 2,100 to AED 2,500, or performance-based pay of AED 7.5 per successful delivery.
“We were told it was free; now that I woke up early,” echoing similar experiences reported in other recruitment drives, @Eagern_KE claimed that after successfully completing interviews and receiving job offer letters, applicants were added to a WhatsApp group where administrators demanded the substantial payment to secure positions.
When questioned about the unexpected fees, the group administrators allegedly ceased communication and blocked further messages from the applicants.
Screenshots shared by @Eagern_KE showed contact details of the purported agents involved in the scheme.
The incident adds to mounting concerns about overseas job scams targeting Kenyans desperate for employment opportunities.
Parliament has summoned Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and the National Employment Authority (NEA) over the swindling of youth seeking employment abroad by recruitment agencies, with the Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare demanding answers about oversight mechanisms.
This year alone, the government through Labour CS has listed recruitment agencies accused of defrauding Kenyans, as part of a crackdown on rogue operators, highlighting the scale of fraudulent activities in the sector.
Dr Mutua has previously faced criticism over similar overseas job advertisements.
Dr Mutua asked to explain his association with the owner of a recruiting firm that saw Kenyans from Uasin Gishu lose millions of shillings in fake Dubai and Canada job schemes, while victims reported they had lost Sh720 million on the promise of overseas jobs, according to police.
The latest allegations come at a time when Kenya grapples with significant employment challenges.
Unemployment Rate in Kenya decreased to 5.40 percent in 2024 from 5.60 percent in 2023, though over 16.8% unemployment among 20–24-year-olds and a 16.3% NEET rate indicates youth continue to face particular difficulties finding work.
The vulnerability of job seekers has created fertile ground for fraudsters who exploit the lack of regulation in online recruitment.
Social media platforms and messaging applications like WhatsApp have become common tools for building trust with victims before demanding payments.
Social media users have expressed frustration with both the alleged scammers and the government’s handling of overseas employment programs.
“Now the mfs blocked us from texting on the group,” wrote @Tejay_001, while others questioned the effectiveness of government oversight in protecting citizens from exploitation.
As of Sunday evening, Dr Mutua had not responded to the latest allegations, nor had the Ministry of Labour issued any statement regarding the claims.
The silence has left affected job seekers without recourse and raised questions about the government’s commitment to protecting citizens seeking opportunities abroad.
The Dubai motorcycle riders controversy serves as the latest cautionary tale in Kenya’s ongoing struggle with overseas job scams, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced oversight and protection mechanisms for citizens pursuing international employment opportunities.
