Stop agents luring Kenyans to Russia-Ukraine warfront
The search for greener pastures overseas has often ended in pain and agony for Kenyans. There are harrowing stories of people who left the country excited about working abroad, and have returned home as dead bodies in coffins.
The Middle East has been the most preferred destination, but stories of cruelty and deaths abound. However, the acute unemployment back home makes the allure of the foreign jobs irresistible. But the torture and humiliation in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other countries raise serious questions on why the government lets its citizens go into harm’s way.
Despite revelations of Kenyans subjected to slave-like conditions, more are still being encouraged to go and work overseas. The government has also joined the search for jobs abroad, with President William Ruto and Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua leading the missions.
However, there is a shocking twist to this foreign jobs saga. Kenyans are now being lured to Russia with scholarships and job offers, but have ended up on the warfront in Ukraine. Some have been captured and paraded for the world to see.
The Russia-Ukraine war is a deadly job scam into which unsuspecting Kenyans are lured. Syndicates recruit and send Kenyans to Russia before they are spirited off to the frontline.
Some have been promised security and casual jobs in Russia with a monthly salary of up to Sh300,000, which is irresistible. They have had to pay agency fees of between Sh70,000 and Sh200,000. These jobs are, indeed, a camouflage for the recruitment of fighters.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has singled out two Nairobi agencies. The claim that the Kenyans are being recruited out of their own free will is untrue. The agencies are exploiting the desperation of hordes of unemployed Kenyans.
The Foreign Affairs ministry says more than 200 Kenyans have joined the Russian military. The authorities can no longer ignore the plight of these Kenyans at grave risk in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This crisis must be solved.
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