Kenyans Stranded in Dubai After Losing Millions in Jobs Scam
Dozens of Kenyans are currently stranded in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after they were abandoned there by an unscrupulous hiring agent.
This was after a Mombasa-based recruiting agent promised to secure them job opportunities in Dubai, where they would earn up to Sh90,000 per month. To secure employment in Dubai, the agent asked the jobseekers to each pay between Sh150,000 and Sh200,000.
However, the jobseekers learned they had been conned after the agent took them to Dubai and abandoned them there with no jobs. Some of the victims, who were lucky to return to the country, are demanding justice.
52-year-old Rahmna Hemed said she took a loan of Sh800,000 to help her four children secure employment in Dubai. Her children were previously working in Qatar but the salary promised by the agent lured her into taking a loan.
“I withdrew my children from Qatar where they earned Sh40,000 hoping to secure them a well-paying job in Dubai only to be duped by an agent. I have not known peace since then,” Ms. Hemed told Sunday Nation.
Another victim, Amani Hamisi Juma, said he quit his security job in Qatar where he earned Sh40,000 per month and paid Sh200,000 to the Mombasa-based recruiting agent only to be abandoned in Dubai.
“We were living 50 people in one room, both men and women. We were never allowed to go out, it was like a prison. We sneaked and went to the Kenyan embassy but we were never assisted,” Juma said.
He disclosed that 100 people from Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Uganda were being held in a separate room. Juma further noted that the agents take Kenyans to UAE using visiting visas only to be enslaved.
“Our visas expired before we were hired, men and women were squeezed in one small room,” he said.
Ms. Mwanamvua Juma said most of her friends were forced to practice prostitution due to a lack of jobs.
“She [recruiting agent] lied to us, when I asked her for a job, the woman offered a house help job which I declined. I had paid Sh200,000 for a well-paying job,” she said.
A majority of Kenyans recruited by the Mombasa-based agent are reported to be stranded and suffering in Dubai.
“The embassy should raid the woman’s house and rescue our colleagues. Some Kenyans traveled [to Dubai] using fake documents,” said Mohammed Komora.
“She picked us from the airport and treated us well before she confiscated our passports and started treating us like slaves. Our embassy in Dubai did not help us,” said Mr. Douglas Mwazombo.
Another victim, Jamal Salim, said the Kenyan embassy in Dubai was to blame for failing to protect its citizens. “Our parents sold their gold chains, earrings, and rings to secure us jobs only to be duped by a Kenyan,” he said.
Comments
You are lucky to be alive …
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You are lucky to be alive .Just close the embassy in Dubai somebody got bribed to look the other way
Tamaa ilimFILIshisa FISI.
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Tamaa ilimFILIshisa FISI.
There are so many cases of…
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There are so many cases of Kenyans being abused or dying in the Middle East as they go there searching for temporary work.
Many more are still taking the deadly chances well knowing they could end up being the next victim of abuse or killed.
And why is anyone paying Kshs 200,000.00 to get a job in a place you don’t even have a crue where you are really going?
The amount of money the agent in Mombasa is charging you is enough to start a small business in your home town - just a small restaurant, mtumba Kiosk, or a small shop selling Unga, coffee, sugar, pelemende, etc!
Stop allowing yourself to be conned by some selfish agents who are selling you as slaves to the Arabs. They are now trading in human being all over again just like in the old days of Vasco Da Gama!!
We have to change. If one…
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We have to change. If one can afford Shs 200000, they should be employers not looking for employment.
This job scamming could be…
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This job scamming could be halted in aday if the government so wishes. Have the money deposited in a legitimate escrow account,and paid to the agency only after the employee is satisfied that what she/he has is what was promised.
Have all bona fide agencies registered,and Only those ones should be used by job seekers who want to go to these gulf states.
I really dont understand why fake agencies still exist since the government is aware of their workings.Could it be part of this corruption we talk about? Its bad enough to be scammed,by for government to do nothing about protecting the would be victims is unscionable.
Unfortunately,the victims share some responsibility for their losses. First,do some research,ask questions before coughing out your hard earned cash.Confirm as to the legitimacy of the agency.Take your time dont rush.If its legit.,and you qualify, you will get it. Remember these scammers pry on your desperation ,gullibility,and desire to get rich quickly.Shot cut to riches is always suspect.
@maxiley - most of the…
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In reply to This job scamming could be… by maxiley (not verified)
@maxiley - most of the agents scamming people are probably not registered at all. You may track their ownership into some politician who is behind the entire scam!
The level of corruption in Kenya is so multifaceted and so deeply rooted in the society to a point of all of us losing the soul of our country!
We must mercilessly fight the ghost of corruption to the end of it. Corruption is killing everything good in Kenya. Corruption must be fought from the top ranks of the government to the local villages every where!
And, this why I have said, “ DP Ruto, the master of corruption” is not the best option to lead Kenya come 2020. He is so deeply marred in the corruption cancer and he will make matter even worse!
We need a clean soul to reclaim our country back!!
Our government through the…
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Our government through the ministry of labour and industry is not doing enough to protect it's citizen from this kind of mistreatment. They should not leave the country before they are cleared and issued with safety assurance. Before issued with Visa, visa application should be accompanied by employers information and the employer on the other side should submit their information to the Kenyan Embassy. We have lost so many lives and all the government on all affected countries have to do something. Bring up a awareness campaign in fighting this kind on crucial mistreatment. It is sad and the pain 😢😥😥😢😢 affect all of us when we learn how our people are treated.
We seek justice for this people and please our government go after this greedy recruiters.
Our government through the…
Permalink
Our government through the ministry of labour and industry is not doing enough to protect it's citizen from this kind of mistreatment. They should not leave the country before they are cleared and issued with safety assurance. Before issued with Visa, visa application should be accompanied by employers information and the employer on the other side should submit their information to the Kenyan Embassy. We have lost so many lives and all the government on all affected countries have to do something. Bring up a awareness campaign in fighting this kind on crucial mistreatment. It is sad and the pain 😢😥😥😢😢 affect all of us when we learn how our people are treated.
We seek justice for this people and please our government go after this greedy recruiters.
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