This free checker searches the official register of private recruitment agencies licensed by the National Employment Authority (NEA). The register is published by the State Department for Diaspora Affairs at diaspora.go.ke/agencies.json and used on its verification page, diaspora.go.ke/verify. The snapshot in this tool was last modified on 18 May 2026 at 21:00 UTC (19 May 2026, 00:00 Africa/Nairobi) and was fetched on 12 November 2026. It lists 1,296 agencies, of which 516 had status Valid and 780 had status Expired on that date.

Licensed recruitment agencies checker

Searches the official National Employment Authority register published by the State Department for Diaspora Affairs (diaspora.go.ke/agencies.json). Snapshot last modified 18 May 2026, 21:00 UTC (19 May 2026, 00:00 Africa/Nairobi). Checked by us on 12 November 2026.

Optional: warning signs in how they contacted you

They could not give an NEA registration number, or the number does not match this name. They asked for a large cash payment to a personal M-Pesa number. They promised a visa or a job without an interview, a contract or a medical test. They pressed you to pay quickly before a slot was lost. The job offer has no named employer or written contract.

Ticking any box shows “red flags found”. It is a warning to pause and check official contacts, not a finding that a named business is unlawful.

How to use the licensed recruitment agencies checker

Type the agency’s registered name, its NEA registration number, or the email address on the message it sent you, then press Check. The tool looks only at this official snapshot in your browser; the text you type is not sent to JobInKenya. If there is a match, you will see the NEA number, name, service type, email and website as they appear on the register, and a status of Valid or Expired.

If the status is Valid, the name is on the licensed list in this snapshot. Still compare the email, website and name used to contact you with the official row, because a licence can expire after the snapshot date. If the status is Expired, treat the agency as not currently licensed until you see a later Valid status on the live official tool. If nothing matches, the result is “Not on the licensed list”. That is not a finding that the name is unlawful. It may be misspelt, listed under a different company name, or added after 18 May 2026. Re-check on diaspora.go.ke/verify or on NEAIMS at neaims.go.ke before you pay or travel.

You can also tick any warning signs in how the agency contacted you. If you tick one or more, the tool shows “Red flags found”. That is a warning to pause, not a verdict about a named business.

What the official register covers

In Kenya, private employment agencies must be accredited by NEA under the Labour Institutions Act and the Private Employment Agencies Regulations, 2016 (Legal Notice 110). The State Department for Diaspora Affairs tells intending migrant workers to confirm the agent on NEAIMS and not to pay fees before checking. This page uses the same official register file that powers the diaspora verification tool. It does not replace NEAIMS or a visit to NEA, and it is not a live feed. Always confirm the current status on the official sites before you act.

Match the contacts. Agencies sometimes have similar names. The official email and website on the register are there so you can see whether the number or inbox that contacted you is the one on the list. If they do not match, stop and confirm with NEA before sending money or documents.

If the name is not on the list, or the licence has expired

Do not pay into a personal number, and do not send your passport or ID, until you have a current Valid listing and matching official contacts. Keep copies of any messages and receipts. You can report a problem through NEAIMS or the contacts published on nea.go.ke, and you can also report it at a police station. For a local job advert that looks off, use our fake job advert checker. For papers many genuine employers ask for, see clearance certificates in Kenya and documents required for jobs in Kenya. Agency fees are explained on Business Radar’s recruitment agency fees guide, and the step-by-step official check is in how to check if a recruitment agency is licensed by NEA.

Frequently asked questions

Who licenses recruitment agencies in Kenya?

The National Employment Authority, under the Labour Institutions Act and Legal Notice 110 of 2016.

What does “not on the licensed list” mean?

It means this official snapshot has no matching name, NEA number or email. Check the spelling, try the registration number, and then confirm on diaspora.go.ke/verify or NEAIMS. It is not a finding that a person or company has committed an offence.

Is an Expired listing the same as being unlicensed?

For practical purposes you should treat Expired as not currently licensed, then confirm on the live official tool, because a later renewal would not appear in this snapshot.

How current is this list?

The official file’s last-modified date is 18 May 2026, 21:00 UTC. We fetched it on 12 November 2026. For a decision about money or travel, use the live official tool.

Sources

State Department for Diaspora Affairs, official NEA register file diaspora.go.ke/agencies.json, last modified 18 May 2026, 21:00 UTC, fetched 12 November 2026 (1,296 agencies). Verification page: diaspora.go.ke/verify
State Department for Diaspora Affairs migrant-worker guidance, pointing to NEAIMS (neaims.go.ke and neaims.go.ke/EmploymentAgencylist.aspx), checked 12 November 2026: diaspora.go.ke/migrant.html
Private Employment Agencies Regulations, 2016 (Legal Notice 110), and NEA accreditation requirements as published on nea.go.ke