Members of Parliament (MPs) have raised critical concerns over the Kazi Majuu recruitment programme, questioning Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua to clearly outline the criteria the Ministry used to select candidates.
Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers chaired by Lydia Haika, on Tuesday August 5, 2025, Mutua was questioned on why shortlisted candidates from November and December 2024 were from Machakos, Makueni and Kitui which are areas linked to him, fueling suspicion.
The Kazi Majuu initiative was originally launched to secure job opportunities in Qatar and now MPs have demanded clarity on how the selection process was carried out, whether any action has been taken against rogue recruitment agencies and how many of these agencies have been arraigned in court.
MPs have also urged that Mutua launches a strong public awareness campaign following allegations of bias and fraud surrounding the initiative.
“This number is huge, yet you are taking from one county. We also want to know the criteria used to give these young men jobs,” Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohammed inquired.
Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor also probed on whether the Ministry has named the fraudulent agencies and shared a list of accredited ones while Kacheliba MP Titus Lotee sought details on the exact number of rogue agencies that have faced prosecution.
“We demand to know why this exercise was conducted in your region dominantly. What is not happening?” Lotee asked.
In response, CS Mutua stated that the government operates a legal platform, the National Employment Agency (NEA), where job seekers can apply and obtain the required documentation.
Mutua denied any regional bias, pledging to provide data showing the actual distribution of candidates.
“It is very unfair to demonize one region. I can bring a report to this committee on how many people were given jobs and show how very few people from the Kamba community benefited,” he argued.
Mutua also acknowledged that his Ministry has had shortcomings in communication and outreach.
“It is true we need to be more robust when it comes to communication and outreach. But it is also the initiative of every Kenyan to do due diligence when applying for these jobs,” he stated.
The Committee Chair has ordered that the Ministry submit all relevant documents within two weeks.