Nine Kenyan Citizens Stranded in Bahrain after Falling Victim to a Fake Recruitment Agency

Nine Kenyan men are stranded in the Kingdom of Bahrain after a fraudulent recruitment agency duped them into believing it could help them secure jobs in the Arabian country.

The nine reportedly entered Bahrain on visitor visas procured through the agency. The visitor visas however cannot be used to seek employment in the country.

“These nine Kenyan men were brought into the Kingdom on e-visas on the idea that they could obtain employment after their arrival; unfortunately, e-visas are strictly for visiting only and cannot be changed to work visas,” Marietta Dias, Chairperson of Migrant Workers Protection Society in Bahrain said.

Dias said the nine men have now overstayed their visas by three months and are finding challenges in returning back to Kenya due to financial problems.

“They now don’t have the financial means to get themselves back to Kenya.”

“Their overstay fines alone are well in excess of BD250/- each, at the rate of BD50/- per month. A one-way ticket to Kenya is approximately BD150/- per person."

“So far, with the help of benefactors from religious institutions and remittances from their already impoverished families back home, only three men have been able to leave Bahrain with two other men in detention and while the rest four waiting for a way to exit the Kingdom,” Dias said.