Former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba has called for a commission of inquiry into alleged state capture and irregular labour export schemes, accusing authorities of failing to protect Kenyans seeking jobs abroad.
She claims senior officials ignored warnings, while recruitment processes left many defrauded, raising concerns about accountability, governance, and the protection of vulnerable workers.
Speaking on Monday, Orwoba said she supported earlier proposals for a formal investigation into systemic corruption, arguing that such an inquiry was necessary to hold those responsible to account.
She said initial support for the current administration had been driven by promises to address entrenched malpractice.
“We thought we are going to have a commission of state capture. We are going to bring people to book,” she said.
Orwoba described how concerns over governance were shaped by personal experiences, including the alleged misuse of public funds in critical sectors.
She cited cases where equipment paid for by the government was either non-functional or nonexistent, claiming this had direct human consequences.
“For me, some of those things really were like, we must go and put a commission of inquiry for this state capture,” she said.
Her remarks extended to the government’s labour export programme, which has in recent years sought to send thousands of Kenyans abroad for employment.
Orwoba alleged that the system had been compromised by rogue agents operating under official licences.
“These rogue agents are licensed by the government. The duty of care is with the National Employment Authority,” she said, adding that enforcement mechanisms had failed to protect job seekers.
She questioned why disciplinary actions against such agents were inconsistent, claiming that suspensions were temporary and lacked transparency.
Orwoba's remarks come amid Kenyans getting recruited to the Russian army by some illegal recruitment agencies, with many reportedly lured by promises of well-paying civilian jobs only to be deployed to fight in the Ukraine war.
Investigations show that some recruits were misled by agents and trafficked through informal networks.
Government estimates indicate that more than 1,000 Kenyans may have been recruited, although official figures confirm at least 252 cases.
Casualty figures remain unclear, but at least 16 are reported missing in action, while others have been injured, hospitalised, or killed, with families struggling to trace their relatives.
In response, the Kenyan government stepped up diplomatic efforts to avert further recruitment and secure the return of affected citizens.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that Kenya and Russia have agreed to halt the enlistment of Kenyans into the military and to facilitate repatriation, particularly for the injured and deceased.
Mudavadi said the agreement aims to “safeguard citizens from being drawn into arrangements that could expose them to harm,” while both countries also pledged to improve oversight through a labour cooperation framework.
Despite these measures, dozens of Kenyans remain abroad, with some still on the front lines, others hospitalised, and several already repatriated as the government continues monitoring the situation.
The former senator also placed responsibility on senior leadership, arguing that warnings about fraudulent recruitment schemes had been ignored.
She said she had directly alerted President William Ruto about alleged abuses in overseas job placements.
“I text him, and I literally sent him all the information that I had in terms of these fake diaspora jobs,” she said.
According to Orwoba, the issue extended to Kenyans recruited for jobs in countries including Russia, with some families allegedly unable to trace or recover the remains of relatives who had died abroad. She argued that inaction at the highest level amounted to a failure of duty of care.
“He outrightly, through his actions or his inactions, made decisions that caused the deaths of many Kenyans,” she said.
Her comments also highlighted concerns raised during a Senate inquiry into labour migration. Orwoba said she initiated the probe after receiving complaints from constituents who had paid recruitment fees but failed to secure employment.
“I asked why are they still in the country after having paid and gone through the process,” she said, referring to a group of 97 individuals who wanted to travel abroad.
She further questioned the sustainability of large-scale recruitment drives, including one held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. “If that programme was successful, how come we have never seen another recruitment?” she asked.
Orwoba said some witnesses who appeared before the Senate committee presented evidence, including mobile money transactions and communication records with agents promising quick deployment abroad.
“We even had witnesses who came in and showed M-PESA messages and receipts,” she said.
Despite acknowledging her initial support for the administration, Orwoba said her position had evolved. She described herself as still committed to reform but now more cautious.
She maintained that addressing corruption remained a priority and insisted that any future administration must prioritise accountability.
“Within the first six months, there will be arrests, charges and convictions,” she said, outlining her expectations for reform once she and the united alternative government attains power.
Her calls for a commission of inquiry and stricter oversight of labour migration come amid growing debate over governance and the protection of Kenyan workers abroad.
