Diaspora Affairs Engagement

DIASPORA AFFAIRS INTENSIFIES CAMPAIGN AGAINST ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN MOMBASA COUNTY

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Friday, September 5, 2025(MOMBASA)__The State Department for Diaspora Affairs (SDDA) has taken its public sensitization campaign to the grassroots of Mombasa County, hosting comprehensive forums in Mvita and Changamwe Sub-Counties. The initiative aims to arm citizens with critical knowledge to safeguard against illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

The outreach team engaged a diverse audience, including youth, community and religious leaders, and National Government Administration Officers (NGAO). The forums served as a platform to educate the public on the Department's mandate, its #DiasporaFirst principle, and the significant milestones achieved since its establishment.

A core component of the sessions was a practical demonstration on how to verify the legitimacy of overseas recruitment agencies through the National Employment Authority (NEA). Ms. Irene Karari, Director-Skills and Expertise Division, detailed the warning signs of fraudulent agents, such as the insistence on applying for a tourist visa instead of a legal work visa.

Further, the Welfare and Rights Division, headed by Director Ms. Emma Gicheha, outlined the government's intervention measures against human trafficking. This included an exposé on the tactics traffickers use to lure Kenyans into non-existent jobs abroad, particularly in Southeast Asia, and highlighted the Division's crucial role in the repatriation and evacuation of Kenyans in distress.

The forums also promoted the government's broader strategy to combat unemployment through the Kazi Kwa Vijana initiatives: Kazi Kwa Ground (local jobs), Kazi Mtandaoni (online jobs), and Kazi Majuu (jobs abroad).

In a message delivered on her behalf, Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Ms. Roseline K. Njogu,CBS, reiterated the government's commitment to a "whole-of-government" approach, ensuring collaborative efforts with all stakeholders to provide the public with vital information.

This outreach follows similar successful sensitization sessions at the Bandari Maritime Academy, the Technical University of Mombasa-TUM, Likoni TVC, and the NYS-Mombasa.