CS Mutua accused of favouring Ukambani in overseas job placements

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua during a morning interview at Spice FM's Situation Room on Kazi Majuu Programme. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua is under fire following revelations that only Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties benefited significantly from a recent overseas job recruitment drive.

The National Assembly Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers has summoned Mutua to explain why the exercise appeared skewed in favour of his home region.

Committee chairperson and Taita Taveta County MP Lydia Haika expressed concern after a report by the National Employment Authority (NEA) showed that the three Lower Eastern counties received the bulk of the job placements, leaving out most of Kenya’s 47 counties.

NEA Director General Edith Okoki, however, distanced the agency from the skewed recruitment, stating it had no role in the selection process and lacked authority to scrutinize it. She said the responsibility lay solely with the Ministry of Labour.

“Our mandate is limited to verifying the registration and validity of private employment agencies and supporting the Labour ministry in coordinating such events,” Okoki said.

The report she tabled indicated that while Murang’a, Nyandarua and Baringo counties also featured on the list, their inclusion did little to ease tensions. Lawmakers questioned the fairness and transparency of the process, accusing the Ministry of centering the job opportunities in the three Ukambani counties.

Okoki told legislators that the agency’s role is limited to approving job demands through the NEA’s information system and registering job seekers, effectively shifting the blame to the Ministry of Labour for any perceived favouritism.

Haika criticised the process, citing lack of regional balance and transparency. She questioned the logic of mobilising an entire county for just 10 job slots, saying the Labour ministry must rethink its recruitment strategy.

“We will be summoning CS Mutua to provide an explanation on the ministry’s recruitment approach, particularly regarding inclusivity, transparency and the role played by the NEA,” Haika said.

Lamu East MP Ruweida Obo questioned the fairness of the distribution stating that it cannot be that it is only six counties that benefitted from this foreign job opportunities with the top three all from Ukambani where the CS hails from.

Mombasa MP Zamzam Mohammed echoed the frustrations of fellow legislators, stressing the need for equitable distribution of opportunities. She condemned the skewed recruitment as unfair, noting that even diplomatic spaces such as embassies were dominated by one region.

“This is very wrong. All Kenyans should feel equally represented. The Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs is letting the government down and must be held accountable. This recruitment is not a village affair, and the CS must explain the criteria used,” said Zamzam.

Data presented to the committee showed the recruitment was conducted between November 20 and 27, 2024. Machakos County topped the list, with 1,260 job seekers registered and 752 placed out of 13,974 declared vacancies. The county hosted 40 recruitment agencies.

In Makueni, 506 job seekers registered, with 410 successfully placed. Kitui recorded 921 applicants, with 901 placed from 7,830 vacancies and 17 agencies participating.