Stella Nafula was upbeat as she bade her family goodbye. She was travelling to Narjan in Saudi Arabia after landing a job that she thought would pull her from the pangs of poverty and restore dignity to her kin. 

As she boarded the plane many thoughts crossed her mind, including how she was going to work hard, save money to uplift her family and return home to some comfortable life. 

Probably, she thought more doors would open and that she could expand her horizons. She was mistaken. Barely a month into her employment she was dead. 

Apparently, she was forced to work when indisposed and not given any medication. 

“Sioni kesho nikifika, nimekufa haki. Haina shida, nimeshukuru kwa yale mumenitendea,” (I don’t think I will see tomorrow, I’m dead. But it’s okay. Thank you for all you have done for me), were her last words. 

There are so many examples one can cite of young women who travel out of the country in search of greener pastures only for their bodies to be sent back home for burial. Between 2019 and 2021, 89 Kenyans succumbed while working in the Middle East.

Their troubles begin with the recruiting agencies. Some have gone rogue and lie to them on the kind of work they will be engaged in only for the Kenyans to be put through slavery and servitude. They earn a pittance for breaking their backs. 

Desperation has been exploited to unimaginable levels. It is time to end this suffering of young men and women whose only mistake is to dream big. 

It is heart-warming that Qatar is leading the way in ensuring workers’ rights are not only guaranteed but also met.

The deregistration of 12 Kenyan-owned agencies that have not met the threshold of engaging in the business is a step in the right direction. 

However, it is too small a step to have an impact. We call on the Ministry of Labour and the Central Organisation of Trade Unions to ensure rogue players are weeded from the industry. This should be done as a matter of urgency. 

Seeking employment out of the country should be encouraged; it should not be a death sentence. It is the duty of the government to promote such engagements but most importantly it should ensure the safety of all Kenyans working abroad. 

Needless to say, remuneration should match the tasks  at hand.