First group of Kenyans back home from war-torn Yemen

The first group Kenyans evacuated from Yemen arrived home on a chartered flight on Saturday morning.

The plane carrying 16 people from the war-torn country landed at Wilson Airport at 6.30am, Director of Diaspora Affairs Washington Oloo said on Saturday.

He said another 27 people will arrive this morning while the biggest and last group is expected on Monday.

Mr Oloo said there were about 250 Kenyans living or working in the Yemen capital Sanaa.

“There have been delays due to technical hitches but the evacuation should be completed latest Tuesday,” he said.

The second group of 27 will be airlifted from Salala, a town in Oman, where they were directed to congregate.

He said the evacuation started in Sanaa because of its volatility and that women and children were given priority in the rescue mission.

“Actually we have a woman who is about to give birth. We had to consider such cases,” Mr Oloo said.

He said 80 per cent of the people who returned home yesterday are Mombasa County residents.

China and India are among countries that have helped their citizens leave Yemen in the past week.

The two countries used naval vessels to rescue their nationals as well as those from friendly countries.

The operation, which involved several aircraft from both countries, evacuating nearly 6,000 people from 41 countries.

This is not the first time the government is evacuating Kenyans in the diaspora.

Last year, a number of Kenyans were evacuated from Libya’s capital Tripoli after the crisis following Muammar Gaddafi’s ouster.

More Kenyans were rescued from the Ebola-ravaged West African states.

Mr Oloo, however, dismissed as untrue reports on Thursday in Somalia media saying an unknown number of Kenyans had arrived in that country’s state of Puntland together with Yemenis, Ethiopians and Djiboutis by sea.

Meanwhile, more that 200 youths in Mombasa have lost millions of shillings to a recruitment agent who died before he could secure them jobs in Middle East.

The agent, Mr Suleiman Mohammed, reportedly committed suicide after failing to find jobs for the youths who had paid him a total of Sh4 million.

Friends of Mr Mohamed said he died on March 10 at his house.

Yesterday, a Mombasa human rights group asked the government to investigate Chandarua Recruitment Agency and Azania Recruitment over the matter.

Human Rights Agenda executive director Yusuf Lule Mwatsefu claimed the agent colluded with Azania Recruitment of Nairobi to solicit money from the youth.

“We wish to bring to your attention a scandalous case where more than 200 unsuspecting Kenyans have again fallen into the jaws of greedy people who masquerade as employment bureaus. These poor Kenyans were made to pay about Sh4 million, with each paying between Sh20,000 and Sh100,000 for jobs in Qatar and Dubai,” said Mr Mwatsefu.

“Four months down the line, these jobs remain an illusion and a hoax,” he said.

He said the Labour ministry is reluctant to tighten laws to include a monthly inspection of recruitment agencies to confirm compliance with the regulations.

Ms Esha Adam, who worked as a secretary in Mr Suleiman’s office, said she had received news that her boss was being treated at the Coast General Hospital after allegedly taking some poison.

“I went to see him but he was not seriously sick as claimed. What I know is that we stopped seeing each other when a group of youths came to the office looking for him,” said Ms Adam.

She said when she went to Mr Mohamed’s house, she found people gathered in mourning but did not see the body.

“I offered my condolences to the family and left but I didn’t see the body,” she said.

Youths who spoke to Nation claimed  Mr Mohamed committed suicide after realising he could not repay their money.

Mr Mohammed Omar from Lamu says he paid Sh50,000 to the agency after being promised a job in Qatar.

“I met a broker who introduced me to Mr Mohamed, who said he could find me a job abroad if I paid him,” said Mr Omar.

Mr Omar said he and 36 others have reported the matter to the police but no action has been taken.

Regional Police Commander Robert Kitur said there had been no reports about the matter.

Mr Mwatsefu said the ministry should compel recruitment agencies to surrender a commitment or guarantee bond for all persons they recruit which is refundable after their clients confirm a successful job placement.