Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua on Friday flagged off 60 Kenyans to Iraq amid complaints over the legitimacy of the process.

He dismissed scam concerns, claiming they only stem from unregistered agents, and revealed that more Kenyans are expected to travel to Germany, Russia, and other Middle East countries in the coming days.

“We have more people going next week. We have more people going in the next two weeks,” he said during an address at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

His statement comes as the Senate launched an investigation into the government’s controversial Kazi Majuu project following allegations that recruitment agencies defrauded job seekers of millions of shillings.

Appearing before the Senate Committee on Labour, applicants recounted being asked to pay Sh15,000 for medical checks, only to later be demanded an additional Sh40,000 for visa processing and certificates of good conduct.

‘‘After interviews, successful applicants surrendered their passports. Later, we were called back and told to pay Sh15,000 for medical tests,” said Calvin Nyamweya, an orphan who sought work in Qatar. “My aunt paid, but we’ve received no refund.”

Godfrey Githae, a carpenter from Nyeri, shared a similar ordeal after applying for a job in Iraq.

“I borrowed Sh55,000 from my wife and in-laws. I was told to wait for a visa, but months have passed with no response—and now my business has collapsed.”

Doreen Biyak from Embu, who had paid a similar sum hoping to secure a job said: “We have been waiting for months, yet no one has reached out to us. It’s devastating.”

A preliminary report by the committee shows that more than 300 Kenyans have been scammed, with many left languishing in distress.

This is even as by the government seeks to send more Kenyans abroad against a backlash after a group was deported back to the country from Qatar. 

Upon arriving in Qatar, the job seekers were reportedly found to have had their pre-departure medical reports doctored.