The high rate of unemployment makes Kenya one of the largest labor exporters, hence the high number of recruitment agencies in the country.
Reports of abuse and mistreatment of migrant workers abroad prompted the government to ban hiring agencies from sending Kenyans to work as domestic staff in the Middle Eastern countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Lebanon, which are notorious for the Kafala system.
Permits of more than 900 recruitment companies were revoked in 2014 and a task force was established to review the management of foreign employment.