EACC Arrests 3 Labour Ministry Officials at JKIA for Alleged Bribery in Migrant Worker Clearance

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested three officials from the Ministry of Labour stationed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for allegedly extorting money from agents facilitating migrant workers traveling to the Middle East. The arrests took place on 30th November 2025 following a complaint lodged with the Commission.

According to EACC, a report indicated that certain Labour officials at JKIA were routinely soliciting and receiving bribes from agents before migrant workers were cleared to travel. Surveillance conducted by the Commission confirmed that agents were paying Ksh 500 per worker as an illegal fee during the clearance process.

“EACC officers conducted surveillance and confirmed that, indeed, agents sending migrant workers to the Middle East were paying Kes500 per worker before the workers were cleared to travel,” partly read the EACC statement.

The arrests occurred during an operation carried out in collaboration with an agent who had 78 migrant workers set to depart for the Middle East. At the Labour desk, the three officers allegedly calculated and demanded a total of Ksh 34,000, which the agent handed over. EACC investigators moved in immediately, arrested the officials, and recovered the money.

The suspects – Benson Ouma Okello, Esther Njoki Gakuru, and Denis Marias – were taken to Integrity Centre for processing and statement recording. They are expected to be released on a cash bail of Kes 50,000 each as investigations continue.

EACC reaffirmed its commitment to cracking down on bribery and corruption at public service points, emphasizing that eliminating such practices is critical to restoring public trust and ensuring fair, efficient service delivery for all Kenyans.