A Kenyan youth has come forward to share his disappointing experience after enrolling in a government-backed program that promised lucrative job opportunities in Qatar.
With the high unemployment rate in Kenya, the young man and his friends were enticed by promises of taxi driver positions in the Gulf nation. However, upon arrival, their hopes were dashed when they were informed that their Kenyan driving licenses were not recognized in Qatar.
Unable to secure the promised jobs, they were left with limited options for survival. The youth resorted to working in construction, commonly referred to as mjengo, where they were promised daily wages of Sh750.
Despite enduring the grueling labor in extreme heat, the young man revealed that he was never paid for the days he worked. Frustrated and unable to sustain himself, he was forced to borrow money from friends to purchase a ticket back to Kenya.
“I was promised a taxi job, but upon arrival, they said our driving licenses were not recognized. I ended up working in construction, where I was to earn Sh750 per day, but I wasn’t paid. I had to borrow money for a ticket back home. Now, I have no future and no school fees for January. I wish Mutua would send his own children there,” he lamented in a statement shared on social media.
The incident has sparked outrage online, with many criticizing the program and urging caution for Kenyans seeking employment abroad. One social media user, Kaib Seddie, remarked, “A mjengo worker in Kenya earns around Sh500 a day without enduring 45-degree heat, slavery-like conditions, and years of separation from family. This is modern-day slavery.”
Others, like Morris Juma, advised Kenyans to thoroughly verify job offers and visa details before traveling abroad.
