Mutua Warns Kenyans On Conmen Promising Them Jobs In Canada

Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Alfred Mutua, on Tuesday, May 16 raised an alarm regarding fake agencies swindling Kenyans by promising them jobs in Canada.

In a statement, the CS noted that his Ministry was alerted regarding the agencies purporting to act for firms in Canada that are seeking additional labour in the form of workers in the North American country.

To mitigate this, Mutua announced that he would make public a list of approved consultants from the Canadian government to distinguish between real and fake job offers in Canada. 

Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua with Mary Ng, Minister of Small Businesses, Export Promotion and International Trade, in Ottawa, Canada on May 16, 2023. /FACEBOOK.ALFRED MUTUA

"Please be careful and wary of agencies that say they are recruiting for Canadian firms. We are aware that some Kenyans have been conned by some agencies and you therefore need to be careful so that you are not swindled.

"I will be providing a list of Canadian Government approved consultants (under the College of Immigration and Citizenship approved consultants)," he announced in part.

The CS further revealed that the job vacancies in Canada as of now exceed the number of available workers and that Kenya would assist in providing opportunities for its citizens to work in Canada.

"Currently, Canada has more employment opportunities than available people to work and we agreed that Kenya can help fill that gap. The process for those who wish to go to Canada is simple but requires one to be diligent," he noted.

Mutua also noted that the two countries are in deep negotiations and would release a comprehensive statement within the next few days with guidance and links agreed upon between the Kenyan and the Canadian Government so that Kenyans can apply for migration or job visas. 

The CS flew to Canada where he held a discussion with the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada and agreed on the various migration opportunity pathways for Kenyans to go and live or work in Canada.

"I was pleased to note that there are job opportunities within various economic sectors across Canada and Kenyans can travel to Canada as students, tourists and as workers," he went on.

In Canada's capital, Ottawa, he met Mary Ng, the Minister of Small Businesses, Export Promotion and International Trade of Canada where they discussed opportunities for increased trade and investments between the two countries.

"We agreed to pursue negotiations on the Kenya-Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement(FIPPA) which will pave the way for a new wave of Foreign Direct Investments and Trade for Kenya. Further, we committed to accelerated negotiation on this critical framework with a view to having it signed before the end of 2023," he stated on Tuesday.

Additionally, the CS welcomed the Canadian Government's support for the Hustler Fund, a flagship bottom-up Kenya Kwanza economic model by President William Ruto that provides credit to small and medium enterprises.

Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua with Mary Ng, Minister of Small Businesses, Export Promotion and International Trade, in Ottawa, Canada on May 16, 2023. /FACEBOOK.ALFRED MUTUA