The Mt Kenya Times 
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Kathure Njogu
Officials use Meru football tournament to warn youth on migration risks and connect them with legitimate overseas opportunities
By John Kariuki
The government yesterday called on young Kenyans seeking work abroad to conduct thorough due diligence, equip themselves with accurate information, acquire the right skills and secure proper documentation before pursuing overseas employment opportunities.
The message was delivered during a diaspora sensitisation exercise held on the sidelines of the third Kazi Majuu Football Tournament at Kianjai Primary School in Tigani West, Meru County — a deliberate choice of venue that brought official guidance directly into a community setting rather than a government boardroom.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Kathure Njogu said the government was taking information on opportunities and support services to communities so that citizens could pursue jobs abroad safely, responsibly and from a fully informed position. “Our role is not just to connect Kenyans to jobs abroad, but to ensure that every prospective diaspora worker understands the processes, the opportunities, the risks and the government support services available to them,” she said.
Njogu was joined by Cooperatives Principal Secretary Patrick Kilemi, who praised the initiative and called for stronger cooperation among stakeholders to ensure young Kenyans are adequately prepared to take full advantage of the global labour market. Together, the two officials signalled that the drive to support safe and orderly labour migration is a cross-government priority, not the concern of a single ministry.
The event effectively transformed the tournament grounds into a one-stop information platform, bringing together institutions from national and county government, development partners and the private sector. Young people interacted directly with agencies responsible for labour mobility, skills development, enterprise support and access to government services — conversations that for many would otherwise require multiple trips to Nairobi.
Presentations were made by the National Employment Authority, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, HAART Kenya, the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Huduma Kenya and the Premier Maritime Training Institute. Each agency shared details of its programmes, services and the specific opportunities available to participants, giving attendees a practical understanding of the legitimate pathways available to them.
The initiative reflects the government’s broader effort to protect Kenyans from the dangers of irregular migration and predatory recruitment practices — a problem that has left many young people stranded, exploited or in debt after pursuing overseas work through unverified channels. By bringing credible institutions directly to communities and pairing the outreach with a football event that draws large crowds, officials are trying to reach young people where they already gather, rather than waiting for them to seek out information independently.
The underlying message from Njogu and her colleagues was straightforward: opportunity abroad is real, accessible and growing — but only for those who prepare properly, use legitimate channels and understand exactly what they are signing up for before they board a flight.
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