AfriPulse
Senators have accused several government officers and Members of Parliament of running rogue recruitment agencies that leave desperate Kenyans stranded abroad after promising lucrative jobs.
Lawmakers allege that some officials in the Ministries of Labour and Foreign Affairs, along with members of the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Labour, maintain ties to unscrupulous firms exploiting job seekers.
The allegations surfaced following testimonies from Kenyan migrant workers stranded in Qatar during a visit by the Senate Standing Committee on Trade and Tourism. Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi described how these agencies, some linked to MPs and officials, lure job seekers only to abandon them overseas.
“During a recent visit to Qatar, I met with Kenyan immigrant workers who raised serious concerns regarding their welfare and working conditions,” Mundigi said.
He added that workers reported exploitation by unlicensed agents, unsafe working environments, wage disparities compared to other nationalities, and severe emotional distress.
Tragic Cases Highlight Urgent Need for Action
Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa recounted the case of Joseph Kiongozi, a Kenyan detained in Saudi Arabia for speaking out about migrant worker hardships. Kiongozi’s wife died shortly after his detention, leaving their child without parents.
“It is a matter of concern that Kenyans in the diaspora, especially in Qatar, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia, have suffered for too long,” Thang’wa said.
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi stressed that exploitation of Kenyans in the Gulf is not new, and that the government knows the individuals behind these fraudulent agencies.
“The starting point is to face the bull by the horns and demand a proper audit of these recruitment firms. Who are the owners? We can easily find out,” Osotsi said.
Senators called for stricter regulations and immediate government action, citing multiple cases of deaths, injuries, and stranded citizens abroad.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei urged Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and his principal secretaries to appear before the Senate to explain the government’s inaction.
Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute emphasized the urgent need to protect the safety, dignity, and legal rights of Kenyans in Qatar, including addressing confiscated passports, unsafe living conditions, and wage disparities.
Government Promises Action, But Challenges Persist
In May, Mudavadi stated that his ministry, together with the Ministry of Labour and law enforcement agencies, was gathering evidence to prosecute rogue agents.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua disclosed that authorities had blacklisted 32 recruitment agencies and are investigating 153 others operating illegally or with expired licences.
Despite these measures, senators warned that Kenyans continue to suffer overseas, urging President William Ruto to intervene and take immediate, decisive action against government officers linked to fraudulent job firms.
Source: NairobiWire.com | Read the Full Story…
