Jobs Abroad from Kenya: Kazi Majuu and NEA Checks

The safest way to get a job abroad from Kenya is to go through channels the government can vouch for: the Kazi Majuu portal, or a private recruitment agency that is licensed by the National Employment Authority (NEA) for foreign recruitment. Before you pay anything or hand over your passport, check the agency's licence yourself and get a written contract.

Fake overseas job offers are one of the most common recruitment scams in Kenya. The checks below take less than an hour and can save you your savings, your documents and your safety.

Option 1: Kazi Majuu, the government portal

Kazi Majuu is run by the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, under the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. It was launched in 2023 to give Kenyans direct access to vetted international vacancies and cut out middlemen.

On the portal you create a profile with your qualifications, skills, work experience and preferred countries, browse vacancies and apply. The same department runs the Diaspora Placement Agency, which connects Kenyan professionals with jobs abroad.

Kazi Majuu is not a guarantee of a job. Vacancies, visa processing and timelines depend on the employer and the destination country, and some applicants wait months. But listings on it have been vetted by government, which is not true of a poster on social media.

Option 2: A licensed private recruitment agency

Many Kenyans find work abroad through private agencies. That is legal - if the agency is licensed by NEA for foreign recruitment. Agencies lose their licences: in 2024 the Ministry of Labour deregistered or refused registration to 25 agencies after complaints. A name that was valid last year may not be valid today, so check every time.

How to check an agency's licence

1. Open the National Employment Authority's NEAIMS portal and choose Verify Employment Agency, then search the agency's name.
2. Or use the Diaspora Affairs register, which you can search by agency name, NEA registration number or email address. It shows each agency's status as Valid or Expired, and its service type.
3. Confirm three things: the name matches the agency's documents exactly, the status is valid, and the agency is licensed for foreign recruitment, not local recruitment only.
4. Use the phone number and email on the official register - not the ones on the poster - to confirm that the agency really is recruiting for the job you were offered.

NEA also advises checking that the specific overseas job itself can be independently verified, not just the agency.

Red flags of a fake job abroad

• You are asked to pay before you have a written offer and a verified agency.
• The "agency" is not on the NEA register, or is registered only for local recruitment.
• The offer came through WhatsApp, Telegram or TikTok from someone you have never met.
• The salary is far above what the same job pays elsewhere, and nobody will put it in writing.
• You are told to travel on a tourist or visit visa and "change it later".
• You are asked to hand over your passport to an agent "for processing" with no receipt.
• The destination, employer or job title keeps changing.

Before you travel: the official checklist

The State Department for Diaspora Affairs publishes a pre-departure checklist for migrant workers. Before you leave, make sure you have:

• A signed employment contract, with digital and paper copies. Diaspora Affairs publishes a standard contract that sets out pay, hours, leave, housing and dispute clauses - compare yours against it.
• A valid work visa or permit for your destination.
• Medical and personal accident insurance cover.
• Your employer's and your accommodation's addresses confirmed.
• Emergency contacts saved: family, employer and the nearest Kenyan mission.
• Scans of your passport and contract emailed to yourself.
• A way to receive your salary and send money home.

Your rights while you work abroad

Laws differ by country, but Diaspora Affairs lists rights every Kenyan worker abroad should insist on: fair pay with payslips and salary on time, reasonable hours and weekly rest days, a safe workplace, freedom from abuse or forced labour, the right to contact family and authorities, and the right to keep your own passport and ID.

If things go wrong, call local emergency services if you are in danger, contact the nearest Kenyan embassy or consulate, and keep a record of what happened (dates, messages, photos). If your salary is delayed, record every missed or partial payment and raise it with the agency, then the mission.

Documents you will usually need

Most overseas employers and agencies ask for a valid passport, academic and professional certificates, a recent CV, and a certificate of good conduct from the DCI. Some destinations also need your documents authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. Our guide to clearance certificates in Kenya explains how to get a certificate of good conduct on eCitizen.

Sources

• State Department for Diaspora Affairs: services and Kazi Majuu
• State Department for Diaspora Affairs: migrant workers
• Verify licensed recruitment agencies (Diaspora Affairs register)
• National Employment Authority: NEAIMS
• allAfrica: Ministry of Labour delists 25 recruitment agencies (October 2024)

Frequently asked questions

What is Kazi Majuu?+

Kazi Majuu is the Kenyan government's portal for jobs abroad, run by the State Department for Diaspora Affairs at kazimajuu.diaspora.go.ke. It lists vetted overseas vacancies and pathways for Kenyans who want to work outside the country.

How do I know if a recruitment agency is licensed by NEA?+

Search the agency's name on the National Employment Authority's NEAIMS portal (Verify Employment Agency) or on the Diaspora Affairs register at diaspora.go.ke/verify. Its licence should show as valid, and it should be licensed for foreign recruitment.

Can an employer abroad keep my passport?+

No. The State Department for Diaspora Affairs says you are entitled to keep your identity documents. If they are taken, ask for them back in writing and alert the nearest Kenyan mission.

Should I pay an agency before I travel?+

Never pay anything before you have confirmed that the agency is licensed and that the specific job can be independently verified. Diaspora Affairs advises verifying the agency, or calling them, before you pay any fees or hand over documents.