Kenyan Cleaner Left Homeless in Dubai After Job Promise Turns to Exploitation

Nashon Mulwa, a 27-year-old Kenyan, finds himself homeless on the streets of Dubai after a failed employment venture.

Mulwa's journey began in July 2023 when he departed his hometown of Taita Taveta, lured by promises of a lucrative job opportunity. His parents invested Sh 180,000 to secure his passage through an agent who assured them a monthly salary of Sh 80,000. However, upon his arrival, Mulwa learned that his actual earnings as a cleaner would amount to Sh 30,000, a severe reduction that marked the commencement of his troubles.

Despite the disappointing pay, Mulwa continued to work, only to face further hardships when his employer delayed his wages and ultimately evicted him. According to his mother, Ruth Juma, Mulwa received just one month’s salary for every three months of labour, with the employer attributing the delays to efforts to recoup the costs of his flight ticket.

After questioning these terms, Mulwa was abruptly terminated from his job and forced out, leaving him vulnerable and without recourse. His family's struggle is exacerbated by their inability to obtain support from various authorities. Despite numerous appeals to the Department for Diaspora Affairs and the National Employment Authority (NEA) in Nairobi, Mulwa’s family has received no assistance.

Local leaders have shown little interest in their plight, leaving them in an increasingly desperate situation. The stakes are high with Mulwa as the primary hope for his four younger siblings. His father, previously the family’s breadwinner, is incapacitated by a severe skin disease, heightening the need for Mulwa’s financial support.

Ruth Juma's distress is palpable as she pleads for help, stating, “We just want our son to get his passport back and find employment. He is our only hope.”

The agent who facilitated his journey has also been unhelpful, claiming her responsibility was limited to arranging travel and not ensuring job placement.
As Mulwa continues to navigate the streets of Dubai, he faces not only the immediate dangers of homelessness but also the fear of arrest due to his lack of proper documentation. Each conversation he has with his family is tinged with anxiety regarding his safety and future.

This incident highlights the broader issues faced by many Kenyans seeking employment abroad, often resulting in exploitation and abandonment. Though the allure of better opportunities exists, it frequently comes with hidden costs and significant personal risks, leaving families like Mulwa’s devastated.

The absence of robust support systems from employment agents and government authorities compounds these challenges and renders individuals like Mulwa susceptible to vulnerabilities in foreign countries. In response to the emerging crisis, Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime has acknowledged the situation and promised appropriate action.

“Noted. Let me forward your text to our Labour attaché in Dubai, for action,” he communicated in a message.