By Afrireport 
At the centre of mounting scrutiny is a government labour export initiative that was once promoted as a lifeline for thousands of unemployed Kenyans.
What began as a promise of opportunity abroad has now drawn the attention of investigators, after complaints and intelligence reports pointed to troubling inconsistencies in how a major overseas recruitment deal was handled.
The focus of the investigations is the Kazi Majuu programme, run under the Ministry of Labour and a controversial Dubai job order that detectives say may have been used to mask a broader scheme of alleged deception, money laundering and abuse of office.
According to investigators, the deal involved promises of well paying jobs in the United Arab Emirates, particularly in construction, hospitality and domestic work, which attracted thousands of hopeful applicants from across the country.
However, detectives say early findings suggest that the recruitment process may have been manipulated by individuals with access to internal systems.
Some applicants reportedly paid fees to intermediaries who claimed to have influence within the programme, only for travel plans to stall indefinitely or job details to change abruptly at the last minute.
In several cases, recruits allegedly arrived in Dubai to find that the promised positions did not exist or differed significantly from what had been advertised.
Investigators are now examining financial trails linked to the job order, including payments made by applicants and funds allegedly routed through multiple accounts.
Authorities believe some of the money may have been laundered through shell entities linked to recruitment agencies or individuals connected to the programme.
The probe has also expanded to include possible abuse of office, with detectives questioning whether public officials may have facilitated irregular approvals or turned a blind eye to red flags.
Also Read
- Trump vs Trevor Noah: Epstein Joke Sparks Fresh Legal Threats
- No More Excuses! CS Ruku Warns Underperforming Civil Servants
- Inside Kakamega’s Newest ECDE Block: What Governor Barasa Just Unveiled in Matungu
- Museveni Drops Uganda Airlines CEO in Sudden Midnight Shake-Up
- How a Promised Way Out Abroad Turned Into a Growing Labour Scandal
The Ministry of Labour has acknowledged the investigations but maintains that Kazi Majuu was designed to protect workers and promote safe, legal migration.
Officials insist that any wrongdoing was the work of rogue actors and not reflective of the programme’s overall mandate.
They have pledged to cooperate fully with investigators and to strengthen oversight mechanisms.
Labour rights groups and opposition leaders have seized on the scandal to demand accountability, arguing that the case highlights deeper structural weaknesses in labour export programmes.
They are calling for refunds for affected applicants, prosecution of those responsible, and tighter regulation of recruitment agencies.
As detectives piece together the complex web surrounding the Dubai job order, the scandal threatens to undermine public confidence in a flagship initiative meant to tackle unemployment, raising uncomfortable questions about governance, transparency and the protection of vulnerable job seekers.
