How cons are minting millions from massive human trafficking

Over a beer at Sky Coffee, a bar and restaurant patronised by Kenyans in Guangzhou, China, Mr Richard Gathigi’s cheerful countenance and sunny optimism belies the travails he has endured over the last few months.

The young Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology graduate came to China in May, hoping to earn good money after tough times hit his land and property agency in Kiserian.

And his story is similar to that of impressionable young men and women who are parting with up to Sh400,000 to recruitment agents in Nairobi to secure jobs as English language teachers in the Asian economic giant, only to end up stranded after finding the promised job did not exist.

Gathigi was introduced to an agent in Nairobi who told him he could earn about Sh300,000 monthly as an English language teacher in China. All it would take would be a one-off investment of a similar amount — to take care of visa processing, air ticket, agents fees and subsistence for a few weeks once he landed in China.

He was told he would be teaching Chinese business managers.

He jumped at the chance and paid a deposit of Sh50,000, also presenting his degree certificates to the agent for transmission to prospective employers.

Within a short time he was instructed to go to the Chinese embassy to complete the visa formalities after the agents had filled and submitted the forms.

He was initially surprised, but didn’t think much of it, because the documents from the agent said he would get a three-month visa, but the Chinese embassy receipt was for a one-month stay at a fee of Sh4,000.

Doubts, however, started creeping in after his recruiter, Ms Catherine Waithaka, operating from an office on Nairobi’s Taveta Road, became evasive to his queries on what would happen after the one-month visa expired.

EXPIRED VISA

When he persisted, she pleaded that she was only a broker, and referred him to the “real agent”, a “Bishop” George Waweru who worked from an office on Tom Mboya Street near Odeon Cinema.

“He assured me that when I reached China and started working, the agent and employer would help extend my visa,” says Mr Gathigi.

Working conditions

Still unsure, he called a friend working in China, who confirmed there were job openings, but cautioned that if he came on his “Class M” visa (for business visitors) he would find it difficult to change it to “Class Z” (that confers residency for working expatriates).

He was also informed about the ordeal Kenyans with “Class M” visa endure every month, having to leave the mainland for Hong Kong and then send their passport to Nairobi for visa renewal before re-entering China.

But he was either naïve or desperate enough to ignore such warning.

“Despite my doubts, I decided to give it a try. I thought that even if a teaching job doesn’t work out, there are many Kenyans doing other businesses in China that I could venture into,” he said.

After paying the agent in Kenya the Sh250,000 balance, he flew out and landed in China on May 23. He was told to call Florence, a Kenyan woman in China, and give her $500 (Sh51,000) upon landing. 

She was to accommodate and feed him before he secured the job, and also take him through the paces — what they call “demo”, an orientation into the teaching methods he would display for potential employers using songs, skits, picture cards and interractivity.

He was picked up at the airport and instead of being taken to Guangzhou, he realised Florence’s house — a reception centre of sorts for other job seekers from Kenya — was in Shenzhen, an hour away.

Despite being tired and hungry and arriving at midnight, he was surprised that Florence was more interested in the $500 than in offering him a meal and place to sleep.  In the morning he confronted Florence who told him that there was no actual job lined up for him. He was also told that his academic certificates would not be needed as a Chinese agent would prepare for him fresh documents with American credentials.

He found a few other Kenyans in the house who were going through the same predicament. Apart from realising their visas did not allow them to work, they were disappointed that the potential English teaching jobs were only in nursery schools. 

VISA EXTENSIONS

They were told they would go through the teaching demo for a week, and then exit to Hong Kong for visa renewal, at their own cost.

At that time, he thought it would be easier to go back home but was shocked the agent had only paid for a one-way ticket.

Mr Gathigi then called his wife in Kenya and asked her to confront the Nairobi agent, who hesitated before finally agreeing to pay for the via renewal.  The agents normally charge Sh15,000 for a one-month visa and Sh35,000 for a three-month visa, a considerable premium on what the Chinese embassy in Nairobi actually charged before the recent outsourcing of visa processing. Sending the passport by courier costs an additional Sh10,000.

On June 1, just eight days after first landing in China, he crossed over to Hong Kong from Shenzhen and handed over his Kenya passport to an agent for transmission to Nairobi. He was with Mary, a Kenyan woman, who had to fly back home after being denied entry into Hong Kong.

Mr Gathigi’s agents had instructed him to go to Chunking Mansion where he found many other African immigrants.

“Mama Dollar”, a Tanzanian woman, ran a restaurant and crowded dormitory full of bunk beds available at Sh660 per night.

He was lucky to have some spare money, opted to team up with another Kenyan and share a single room in the same building for Sh1,975.

It was another 18 days, and spending Sh35,000, before he finally got his passport with the visa back. His wife had gone through the process, instead of the agents’ preferred trick of using an impersonator to go to the embassy. 

Unfortunately, he got only a one-month renewal. As the agent delivered the visa, he also informed him that he must re-enter China, and then exit again as soon as possible to get a fresh visa extension before a July 1 deadline for a change in visa rules.

He returned to Shenzhen, and after just four days made the trip to Hong Kong again.

This is when fresh troubles started. The first time he had told immigration officials that he was coming to buy trade products destined for Kenya.

When they interviewed him again on second entry, they were suspicious, but the border official let him in on condition that it would be the last time.

He was fortunate in Hong Kong to bump into a visiting Kenyan athlete, who agreed to deliver the passport to his wife in Nairobi at no charge. There were delays in processing the visa and Mr Gathigi waited in Hong Kong for 11 days, spending at least Sh20,000.

On re-entering China on July 1, he learnt to his dismay that no jobs were available because schools had closed for the summer holidays.  He had to wait until September.

PERILOUS JOURNEY

So he hung around Shenzhen, making occasional trips to the commercial and manufacturing hub in nearby Guangzhou where he started slowly learning the job many Kenyans who are not formally employed by the numerous cargo companies do. He became a broker for the cargo companies, a “sourcer”, which involves going out to the sales hubs and identifying products for potential clients, and also a guide for visiting merchants.

Guides, including many of the illegals, can earn up to Sh5,000 for a one-day assignment. They also get a commission from the sellers.

“Sourcers” get a commission or agreed fee for sourcing specific products and making orders for Kenyan importers. They also get a commission from the sellers.

Mr Gathigi was confident and secure enough to visit home in August, where he also scouted for potential clients needing building materials, household furnishings, mobile phones and accessories and other products.

Despite his perilous journey, he has now decided that China is the place to be. While at home in Kenya in August, he made the decision that he would return to China, but to do his own business, not the phantom teaching job that first lured him there.

But the hassles are still not over. When he talked to Lifestyle a week ago, he was about to make another monthly exit because even his one-year multiple entry visa did not allow him to stay in China for more than a month.

The earlier escapade ruled out Hong Kong or Macao. So he had to catch a flight to the Philippines for a night or two before re-entering China. At least he did not have to send his passport to Nairobi.