Young women seeking help at Kenyan consulates in the Middle East are sexually exploited, a task force heard yesterday.
The team reviewing foreign employment matters heard that the women are forced to pay bribes to get help to travel back home.
The task force is reviewing the administration of foreign employment and management of labour migration.
Blue Arrow director Michael Mbugua said security officers at consulate entries allegedly demand Sh2,400 to allow anyone inside.
A person looking for help is required to pay around Sh24,000, failing which they are thrown out.
Mbugua said the women become more vulnerable after they are chased from the office, leading to arrests by local authorities.
Police then suspect them of being vagabonds or they are kidnapped by criminals.
He said it is almost impossible for recruitment agencies to monitor the welfare of the migrant workers.
Mbugua said even the agencies’ staff face the same problems.
Speaking at the KICC, Foreign Affairs ministry representative in the task force Zachary Mwita admitted to the malpractices at the embassies and the local offices.
He called on anyone with information to report to the ministry.
The task force was formed by suspended Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi last November.
It is meant to probe the cause of mistreatment of Kenyan workers in the Middle East. He said a cartel of blackmailers lure youthful women to leave employment on promises of greener pastures.
The task force was told the blackmailers defraud the girls of their money and leave them desperate.
Diaspora Welfare Association of Kenya chairman David Njoroge asked the government to “stop the briefcase agencies recruiting Kenyans into slavery”.