The Kenyan government has issued a stern warning to job seekers about a fake South Korea job recruitment drive targeting unsuspecting Kenyans with promises of high-paying employment opportunities.
In an official statement released on Thursday, May 8, Roseline Kathure Njogu, the Permanent Secretary for the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, clarified that the government is not connected to any ongoing recruitment for jobs in South Korea. The PS termed the drive a fraudulent job scam exploiting desperate Kenyan job seekers abroad.
“The State Department, in collaboration with the Kenya Embassy in Seoul and South Korean authorities, has thoroughly investigated the alleged job offers and confirmed they are not genuine,” said PS Njogu.
The scam job advertisements specifically mentioned supposed vacancies in ‘Rural Plus Centres’ located in South Korea’s Jeollanam-do province, including Haenam, Wando, Jindo, Yeongam, and Jangheung counties.
According to the government, the companies named in the ads have denied any involvement and confirmed they are not affiliated with any Kenyan recruitment agencies.
In response, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs is urging Kenyans to avoid engaging with unknown individuals or agencies offering jobs abroad without proper verification.
“We advise all job seekers to verify job offers through our ministry’s official channels or contact the Kenyan Embassy in Seoul directly,” added Njogu.
This comes as concerns grow over fake job offers targeting Kenyans, particularly in Asia and the Gulf. On May 6, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua appeared before the Senate to address why some Kenyans with proper documentation were still unable to travel abroad for employment.
Mutua emphasized that the government is only a facilitator, and job offers come from diverse sources. He noted that some job seekers who had successfully secured positions failed to travel due to financial challenges, lack of documentation, medical test failures, or a change of heart.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Kenyans seeking jobs overseas and warned against falling for scams that promise unrealistic opportunities without proper vetting.
Key Takeaways:
- The government is not involved in any South Korea job recruitment.
- The advertised opportunities were confirmed to be fake after investigations.
- Kenyans are urged to verify all job offers through official government channels.
- The State Department and Labour Ministry are working to protect job seekers from fraud.