The Ministry of Labour has come under sharp scrutiny after revelations that only three counties – Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui – benefited significantly from a recent overseas job recruitment exercise.
Out of Kenya’s 47 counties, these three from the Lower Eastern region received the lion’s share of the opportunities in the tabled report.
While appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers, the Director General of the National Employment Authority (NEA), Edith Okoki, tabled the recruitment data, stunning legislators with the lopsided distribution.
According to the report, although Murang’a, Nyandarua, and Baringo counties also appeared on the list, their inclusion sparked outrage among Members of Parliament, who questioned the fairness and transparency of the process.
Pressed to explain the selection criteria, Okoki told the committee that NEA was not involved in the selection process and lacked the authority to interrogate it.
“Our mandate only remains verification of the registration and validity of the registration certificate for private employment agencies involved and support to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection on coordination of the events,” she said.
She further clarified, “We only do approval of job demands through the National Employment Authority information systems and registration of job seekers.”
The data submitted to the committee showed that the recruitment was conducted between November 20 and 27, 2024.
Machakos County topped the list with 13,974 declared vacancies. Of the 1,260 job seekers who registered, 752 were successful, with 40 agencies present during the exercise.
In Makueni, 506 job seekers registered, out of which 410 secured employment. The county had 6,931 declared vacancies and hosted 22 recruitment agencies.
Kitui County recorded 921 registered job seekers, with 901 successfully placed. A total of 7,830 vacancies were declared, with 17 agencies participating.
Committee Chairperson and Taita Taveta MP, Lydia Haika, criticised the process, pointing to a lack of regional balance and transparency.
“There is no need to mobilise an entire county when only ten slots are available. If the opportunities are limited, say so clearly. You need to rethink your recruitment strategy,” she told the officials.
Lamu East MP Ruweida Obo added her voice, questioning the fairness of the distribution. “It cannot be that it’s only six counties, and the top three are all from Ukambani. We need an equitable share,” she stated.
Mombasa MP Zamzam Mohammed echoed the frustrations of her colleagues. “We need equitable shares. This is very wrong, and all Kenyans should feel equally represented. It’s disappointing that even at the embassy, the introductions are dominated by one region,” she said.
She went further, calling for accountability from senior government officials. “The PS for Diaspora is letting down the government and must be held accountable. The recruitment is not a village agenda. The PS and CS should table the criteria they used to recruit for these jobs.”
In response to the growing discontent, the committee resolved to summon Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua to provide a full explanation on the ministry’s recruitment approach, particularly with regard to inclusivity, transparency, and the role played by the National Employment Authority.
