A short BBC Africa documentary has once again sparked a conversation online regarding young Kenyans seeking employment in the Middle East are tricked into slavery by local agencies.
The video shows how Kenyan and Ghanaian girls are in demand in Arab countries where employment quickly turns into endless suffering and with no way back home since their passports are confiscated on arrival.
This is not the first time there has been public uproar on this matter, the last time it happened, the government was forced to ban the export of housemaids to the Middle East. A ban that would later be lifted after the government signed fresh deals with Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan.
Many have blamed the Kenyan government for these happenings, saying that were there better job opportunities in the country, young girls wouldn’t be landing in the hands of these vile humans abroad.
Here are some of the reactions online.
African governments must work hard at creating more opportunities for their citizens so that these inhumane activities does not happen.
— Richard Takyi (@takyir) October 28, 2018
I blame @ImmigrationDept for not doing enough to protect Kenyan ladies who go to the Middle East. I think our airports need to televise these incidents to prevent young girls from heading to the M.E if Immigration are unable to stop it.
— Jax #WhyILoveKenya🇰🇪💖 (@Jackie_Arkle) October 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/BrutalHonest3/status/1056515506176512000?s=19
I applaud the Kenyan MP, but African leaders need to ask themselves why there are no Saudi Arabian girls fleeing to Africa. The answer is simple: poor socioeconomic conditions brought about by years of failed leadership.
— Teezon! (@TeezyFBaby1) October 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/majidadilast/status/1056515296742293504?s=19
Why did they lift the ban when they literally knew what is happening to their people….
Does the government make follow up or further investigations on the employers or agency after such heartbreaking stories?.— Akawa (@remember763) October 29, 2018
