Alfred Mutua, the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, has consistently misled Kenyans with rosy promises regarding overseas employment programs, particularly those targeting domestic workers in countries like Saudi Arabia.
Despite his assurances, a closer look at the reality faced by these workers reveals a grim picture of exploitation, deception, and disregard for their well-being.
While Mutua has painted a picture of success in his ministry’s overseas recruitment programs, the truth is far more troubling, and his claims of protecting Kenyan workers abroad are increasingly being exposed as false.
Under Mutua’s watch, Kenyan workers especially women are recruited for domestic work in the Middle East under exploitative conditions.
Many are promised better opportunities, such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) roles, but upon arrival, they are forced into domestic jobs instead.
The contracts they sign often include terms that trap them in abusive situations.
If workers wish to leave, they are forced to pay exorbitant fees, including two months’ salary and their return airfare.
In contrast, employers can terminate contracts with just one month’s pay, leaving workers vulnerable and helpless.
Mutua has repeatedly downplayed the challenges faced by Kenyan workers abroad.
He claims that less than 0.1% of workers face exploitation, but this does not reflect the widespread mistreatment many endure.
In fact, the lack of oversight and insufficient protective measures in place only perpetuate a cycle of abuse, with workers unable to seek redress.
His ministry’s failure to address these issues raises serious questions about his commitment to ensuring fair treatment for Kenyans abroad.
Despite repeated reports of mistreatment, his focus seems to be on the quantity of workers placed in foreign jobs, rather than their safety and well-being.
By promoting these programs as a solution to unemployment and a means of boosting Kenya’s foreign exchange, Mutua has conveniently ignored the broader costs to Kenyan workers.
The promise of employment is quickly overshadowed by the exploitation they face, which often leaves workers financially drained and emotionally distressed.
His failure to ensure fair treatment and enforce better working conditions is not only misleading but also highlights a disturbing lack of accountability.
His continued disregard for the plight of workers abroad paints a picture of a man more focused on his image and political ambitions than the lives of those he is meant to protect.
Alfred Mutua’s claims of protecting Kenyan workers abroad stand in stark contrast to the reality they face.
His promises of fair job opportunities are nothing more than a facade designed to distract from the exploitation and mistreatment occurring under his watch.
It is time for the government to hold him accountable and demand reforms that genuinely protect the rights and welfare of Kenyan workers, rather than perpetuating the lies he continues to tell the public.
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