Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua faced intense parliamentary scrutiny Tuesday over his ministry’s handling of a government-backed recruitment drive for jobs in Qatar, with lawmakers raising serious concerns about regional bias, poor communication, and the rampant threat of fraudulent agencies.
The Parliamentary Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers zeroed in on why a national recruitment exercise conducted across six counties between November and December 2024 was overwhelmingly concentrated in Mutua’s home turf – Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties.
“What is not happening?” demanded Kacheliba MP Titus Lotee pointedly. “We demand to know why this exercise was conducted in your region dominantly.”
Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohammed amplified the concern over skewed distribution: “This number is very big, yet you are taking from one county. We also want to know the criteria that was used to give these young men jobs.”
Facing the heat, CS Mutua dismissed allegations of favouritism. “It is very unfair to demonise one region,” he countered emotionally, pledging to provide the committee with data proving the Kamba community received minimal benefits. “I can bring a report… showing how the Kamba community ni wachache walibenefit (are the few who benefited).”
The hearing also exposed critical failures in communication and oversight, leaving thousands of job seekers vulnerable to exploitation. MPs slammed the ministry for not clearly identifying legitimate recruitment channels.
Lang’ata MP Phelix ‘Jalang’o’ Odiwuor challenged Mutua directly: “Have you gone out and told the people which agencies are vetted?” He questioned the CS’s “lone ranger” approach, emphasizing Parliament’s reach: “We have numbers—we can communicate these things on your behalf.”
Mutua conceded a communication lapse – “I agree we have not done a good job communicating” – but also shifted some responsibility onto applicants, stating “it is also the initiative of every Kenyan to do due diligence.”
This defense rang hollow against alarming statistics revealed during the session: Out of 6,385 Kenyans who participated in the recruitment drives, a mere 925 received provisional job offers. Disturbingly, many applicants reported falling victim to “bogus agents” who conned them.
In response to the dual crisis of potential bias and widespread fraud, the committee issued concrete demands:
- A detailed list of all vetted recruitment agencies.
- An immediate nationwide public awareness campaign to educate job seekers and shield them from exploitation.
The controversy highlights persistent challenges in Kenya’s labour export sector, balancing opportunity against the risks of exploitation and ensuring equitable national access to foreign employment programs overseen by the government. The committee awaits Mutua’s promised data report as scrutiny intensifies.
