Exposed: CS Mutua Uncovers How 3 Kenyan Women Fell Victim to Fake Oman Job Scam

CS Alfred Mutua during a past event

Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua has exposed a fraudulent overseas recruitment scheme that scammed three Kenyan women into believing they had secured legitimate jobs in Oman.

In a statement issued on Thursday, January 30, 2026, Mutua confirmed that the victims were issued with forged Ministry of Labour stamps, fake labour clearances, and invalid work visas that do not exist in Oman’s official records.

“The report below details an investigation into the recruitment of Jeneffer, Matilda, and Caroline, who were scheduled to travel to Oman. The case involves falsified government documents, an unlicensed recruitment agency, and suspicious direct-hire claims,” read part of the statement.

According to the investigation, the scam involved forged Ministry stamps, fake labour clearance letters, and the use of a non-existent Ministry official identified as Raphael.

The report identified an unlicensed ticketing contact linked to Elijah’s Ticketing Tours as a key player in the scheme.

Mutua revealed that the individual, identified as Elijah, admitted he does not hold a recruitment licence and claimed his role was limited to ticketing and reservations for supposed direct hires.

“The recruitment was facilitated through an informal network rather than a registered recruitment agency,” Mutua said.

The three women were reportedly recruited by a foreign recruiter identified as Mr. Mohamed, who is based in Oman.

However, the job seekers did not engage a registered Kenyan recruitment agency, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and fraud.

The scamsters claimed that labour clearance and contract attestation were handled by a Ministry officer identified as Raphael.

A verification conducted by the Ministry’s Attestation Department confirmed that no officer by that name exists within the unit.

Further checks on the Oman e-Visa Portal returned no records of the alleged work visas. Authorities also established that the Ministry stamps used on the documents were fake and not officially issued.

Mutua Issues Strong Warning

Mutua warned Kenyans against bypassing registered recruitment agencies, saying the practice exposes job seekers to serious risks.

“Before engaging anyone on Kazi Majuu, please undertake basic research and due diligence,” he said.

He advised Kenyans to verify licensed agencies through the National Employment Authority portal at neaims.go.ke, or contact the Authority via the toll-free numbers 0800 222 223 or 020 861 0000, or email cs@labour.go.ke.

Rising Overseas Jobs Fraud

Kenya has recorded a sharp rise in complaints related to fraudulent overseas recruitment, particularly involving Gulf countries such as Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait.

In 2025, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs repeatedly warned Kenyans about fake job offers and visa scams, where victims arrived abroad with invalid documents or no jobs at all.

Between 2025 and 2026, the Ministry of Labour confirmed it investigated hundreds of labour mobility fraud cases, shut down more than 400 illegal recruitment agencies, and probed over 390 complaints.

Most of the cases involved unregistered entities not listed with the National Employment Authority or the Business Registration Service.

The complaints included deception over job conditions, passport confiscation, excessive working hours, abuse, and reports of Kenyan women dying under unclear circumstances while working abroad.