In September 2022, Nation reported that the recruitment company First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy was being investigated by police for allegedly defrauding migrant workers seeking employment in Qatar during the football World Cup. 200 young migrants accused the company of promising jobs to them that did not materialise after paying a lump sum of between Sh40,000 to Sh200,000. The article reports that the company denied the claims and blamed delays on visa processing.

In August 2023, The Nation Africa reported that the government found the agency was not officially registered. Later that month, Mwakilishi released an article outlining the deleterious impact of the scam on the workers, who often sold their homes and belongings and had taken out loans to pay the recruitment fees, rendering them destitute when the jobs did not materialise. The workers have appealed to the President for support and they shared their stories at a meeting with the Senate Committee on Labour.

In October 2023, The Kenya Times reported that the members of the Committee called for a probe on all state and public officers alleged to have played a part in the programme. Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui has refuted claims that he was involved, but did acknowledge he was present at a function organized by First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy agency.