The National Employment Authority (NEA) has told the National Assembly Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers that private Employment Agencies (PRAs) are required to execute a KSh1.5 million security bond as a condition for registration.
Appearing before the Committee on February 26, NEA Director General Edith Okoki said the bond is mandatory after clearance by the Vetting Committee and is intended to facilitate the repatriation of distressed migrant workers or the remains of deceased workers.
“All Private Employment Agencies are required to execute a security bond valued at KSh1.5 million after being cleared by the Vetting Committee. The main objective of the bond is to provide assistance in repatriating distressed migrant workers or the remains of deceased migrant workers,” she said.
She added that two insurance firms, Monarch Insurance and African Merchant Assurance Company Limited, currently issue the security bonds.
NEA Pushes for Migrant Workers Welfare Fund
During the session, the lawmakers learned that the authority’s inability to repatriate stranded workers is due to funding gaps, necessitating support from the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.
NEA Director of Immigration, Joseph Njue, told the Committee that attempts to engage insurers directly to facilitate repatriation have been unsuccessful due to upfront cost requirements.
He explained that insurers require either NEA or the recruitment agent to first meet the cost of repatriation before seeking reimbursement, a condition that has proven difficult, as neither the Authority nor the agencies have adequate funds to cover the initial expenses.
Legislators sought clarity on who holds ultimate responsibility for repatriation under existing agreements, asking whether the duty lies with the recruitment agent or the NEA before any insurance claims can be processed.
They called for a review of the arrangement to prevent situations where Kenyans remain stranded abroad due to financial constraints.
Also Read: Exposed: How 3 Kenyan Women Were Duped with Fake Visas and Forged Stamps for Jobs Abroad
In response, Njue appealed to lawmakers to fast-track the Labour Migration Management Bill, 2025, saying it would address existing legal and financial gaps.
He noted that the proposed Migrant Workers Welfare Fund proposed under the Bill would be a contributory mechanism aimed at providing protection and assistance to Kenyan migrant workers during migration, while in destination countries, and upon their return home.
Lawmakers were informed that if enacted, the Bill would streamline the utilization of security bonds and strengthen support systems for migrant workers facing distress abroad.
Also Read: How Kenyans Are Paying Close to Ksh20,000 Insurance Cover Before Travelling Abroad
Repatriation of Kenyans Working Abroad
In December 2025, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs (SDDA) provided an update on the status of the repatriation of Kenyan nationals rescued from illegal scam compounds in Myanmar.
A total of 119 Kenyans were successfully repatriated following raids by Myanmar authorities and rebel groups, with efforts continuing to assist the remaining nationals amid complex regional dynamics.
Criminal syndicates had established scam compounds in remote areas of Karen State, near the Myanmar-Thailand border.
In September 2025, the Myanmar government conducted raids on the compounds, resulting in arrests, seizures, bombings, and demolitions.
The operations sparked clashes between government forces and rebel groups, as well as among the rebel factions themselves.
Following the raids, the criminal operators abandoned the compounds, leaving behind workers.
Over 200 Kenyans sought refuge in military shelters in Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, while another group of more than 100 crossed into Thailand, awaiting repatriation.
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