Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has strongly refuted claims by Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba concerning Kenya’s labour mobility program, which facilitates job opportunities for citizens abroad.
In a formal letter to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Mutua requested to appear before the Senate to clarify details about the program’s progress and ongoing challenges.
Mutua criticized Orwoba for making what he termed false and politically motivated allegations. He referenced statements in which Orwoba alleged that thousands of Kenyans were being defrauded by Ministry of Labour agents. The CS challenged her to present verifiable evidence, including a list of alleged victims and details of the agents involved.
He also dismissed Orwoba’s assertion that over 1,000 youth who took loans from the Youth Fund had been conned, labeling it as misinformation. According to Mutua, such remarks are an attempt to gain political mileage. He further urged Orwoba to provide proof of Kenyans reportedly taking loans from shylocks and microfinance institutions for overseas jobs.
Additionally, Mutua accused the Senator of intimidating labour agencies and pushing for personal political appointments in Bobasi Constituency. He alleged that Orwoba threatened him after he asked her to stop interfering with ministry operations and provided evidence of a list of 600 names she submitted to an agency for non-existent positions.
Did you read this?
Mutua claimed Orwoba’s actions violate the Leadership and Integrity Act, citing that she has coached individuals to give false information during media interviews.
His letter followed tensions that arose when Orwoba, during a Senate Labour Committee meeting, questioned the government’s continued push to deploy Kenyans to Iraq despite safety concerns, and sought clarity on the role of the National Employment Authority in protecting job seekers.
