By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 30 January 2026 - Kenyans dreaming of jobs in Oman were instead handed forged papers and empty promises, after the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection uncovered an illegal recruitment scheme built on fake documents and unlicensed brokers.
An investigation report dated 30 January 2026 revealed that a group of job-seekers had been lined up for travel abroad through a process that ignored Kenya’s legal labour migration rules, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking and financial loss.
Officials said the documents presented to applicants did not come from the ministry at all.
“Officials established that the stamps appearing on the recruitment documents were fake and did not originate from the Ministry of Labour, while verification with the Ministry’s Attestation Department showed that no authorised officer had processed or approved the clearances presented,” they stated.
Instead of going through registered recruitment agencies as required by law, the scheme relied on informal middlemen who claimed they could secure direct jobs in Oman. Investigators say this tactic was used to avoid regulatory checks.
The probe also found that labour clearance letters and contract confirmations shown to jobseekers were forged. Ministry checks confirmed that neither the stamps nor the approvals were genuine.
Digital verification raised further red flags.
“Further checks on the Oman e-Visa portal returned no records of valid work visas linked to the recruitment, confirming the documents were not legitimate,” the ministry added.
More from Kenya
According to the ministry, the operation appeared carefully designed to sidestep official safeguards, increasing the risk that victims could be stranded or mistreated abroad.
Authorities have now ordered those behind the scheme to present themselves to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), warning that summons will be issued to track down suspects who fail to comply.
The latest case adds to growing concerns over rogue recruiters. Earlier this month, the ministry announced that over 680 agencies had been deregistered for operating without licences or violating labour rules. A multi-agency team bringing together the DCI, the Asset Recovery Agency and the National Employment Authority is also investigating at least 390 agencies over suspected fraud and irregular recruitment. Several files have already been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The ministry is urging Kenyans seeking work abroad to be vigilant, deal only with licensed agencies and confirm details through official government platforms before making any payments.
