A growing number of Kenyans are losing significant sums of money to fraudulent recruitment agencies operating openly on social media. These operations, which are not registered with the government as required by law, exploit economic desperation by advertising lucrative overseas jobs that do not exist.
One victim, a 35-year-old woman working in Qatar, paid 150,000 Kenyan shillings—a full year’s savings—to a company called WorldPath House of Travel after seeing its posts on TikTok. The agency promised a work visa for a produce sorting job in the Netherlands and provided a document bearing the letterhead of a legitimate Dutch firm. However, that firm has confirmed it has no partnership with WorldPath and labeled the operation a scam. The victim’s requests for a refund were ignored, and the agency’s contact number was disconnected.
This case is not isolated. Investigations have identified more than a dozen unaccredited agencies using TikTok to promote warehouse, factory, and hospitality jobs abroad. At least six Kenyans have come forward, reporting losses ranging from 100,000 to 545,000 shillings. To pay these fees, individuals have sold livestock, taken out loans, and borrowed from relatives.
The scammers employ sophisticated tactics to appear legitimate, including setting up professional-looking offices, conducting fake interviews, and even forging documents from foreign hospitals and immigration authorities. “When you’re desperate, you tend to fall for things easily,” said one unemployed victim who lost over 350,000 shillings.
The scams thrive against a backdrop of a stagnant national economy and a youth unemployment rate estimated near 17%. With the government actively promoting labor export to boost remittances, the demand for overseas opportunities is high. Concurrently, TikTok’s user base in Kenya has grown significantly, making it a prime hunting ground for fraudsters.
Authorities have taken some action. One prominent TikTok personality faces criminal charges for allegedly defrauding dozens of people, and the Ministry of Labour has blacklisted over 30 agencies while investigating 150 more. However, new unregistered operations continue to appear on the platform.
In one pattern, a company called Halisi Affiliates, founded in late 2023, collected fees for jobs in Europe before ceasing communication and shutting its office and social media accounts. Months later, a new company with a similar name and logo appeared on TikTok. Halisi stated it was itself a victim of fraud by an overseas partner and had closed its TikTok presence to cooperate with an internal review and authorities, while refunding some clients.
The financial and emotional toll on victims is severe. One woman who quit her job for a promised nursing position in the Netherlands said the experience left her with “no money, no savings,” describing it as devastating and draining.
Despite public warnings and blacklists, these deceptive operations persist, adapting quickly by deleting accounts and reappearing under new names, leaving a trail of financial ruin and broken hopes.