Job search · 3 min read
How to check a recruitment agency in Kenya before you pay or apply
What the Labour Institutions Act requires of employment agencies, what they may charge, what their registration certificate must show, and a quick check list.
Recruitment agencies place thousands of Kenyans in jobs every year, and fake agencies take money from thousands more. The law gives you a way to tell them apart: every agency must be registered, and the certificate says where and in what jobs it may work. Here is how to check.
Registration is required
Section 55(2) of the Labour Institutions Act says no person may carry on business as an employment agency, or charge any payment for getting someone a job through an agency, unless registered under the Act. The Director keeps a register of registered agencies (section 55(1)).
Applications are vetted by an inter-ministerial committee, and the Director issues a certificate if the applicant is qualified and its premises are suitable (section 56).
What the certificate must show
- The name of the person or company registered.
- The premises where the business is run.
- How long the certificate is in force.
- The area, including any foreign country, where the agency may do business.
- The class of person or employment it may recruit for.
- Any conditions attached.
Ask to see the certificate and compare it with the job you are offered. An agency registered for local office jobs is not authorised to send you abroad.
Fees
Section 57(2) says an agency may not charge any fee unless regulations provide for it, and never above the rate prescribed for that area and class of business. Many reputable agencies charge job seekers nothing and are paid by the employer.
Treat a demand for a registration fee, a medical fee or a training fee before any interview as a red flag. No real job is sold. If anyone asks you to pay to be hired, it is a warning sign.
Quick check list
- A registration certificate in the agency's name, current, covering the job and the country.
- A physical office at the address on the certificate.
- A named employer and a written job description before you pay anything.
- A written contract you can read before you sign, with pay and the place of work.
Sources and further reading
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Frequently asked questions
Do recruitment agencies in Kenya need to be registered?
Yes. Section 55 of the Labour Institutions Act bars anyone from running an employment agency or charging for job placement without registration.
Can a recruitment agency charge me a fee?
Only where regulations provide for it, and never above the prescribed rate (section 57(2)). Many agencies charge the employer, not you.
What should an agency's certificate show?
The registered name, premises, validity period, the area including any foreign country, the class of jobs, and any conditions (section 56(6)).