Someone should pat Mr Patrick Wamoto’s back on behalf of PointBlank. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Political and Diplomatic Secretary’s announcement last Friday, albeit belated, shows that this Government still has its heart intact.
The suspension of exportation of domestic workers to the Middle East is a welcome move. Of course, there are murmurs from (who else?) those who benefit most from what could pass as modern day slavery–recruitment agents.
We have highlighted here several desperate cries of families, whose loved ones were taken through hell in Saudi Arabia. Torture, rape and being overworked are familiar tales.
TREATED LIKE DIRT
While it is true that recruitment agents are a problem, the Saudi government remains the main culprit. For it is the “sponsorship” system, which is backed by the Saudi law, which accords employers immense powers over immigrant workers.
That’s why they treat housemaids like dirt. Unless and until Saudi Arabia amends this law, exportation of maids to that country should be stopped in toto. That’s the right and dignified thing to do.
Air Seychelles takes off aboard KQ
Recently, Mr Otieno Michael Oloo had a very enjoyable flight aboard the ‘Pride of Africa’ from Lilongwe to Nairobi via Lusaka.
But something almost fouled his mood when he tuned into Channel 3 of the in-flight entertainment in the Boeing 767 aircraft. It had nothing to do with the African classical music on the channel, which he says was very good. However, it had everything to do with commercial interludes on the channel.
One commercial particularly irked Oloo. It welcomed him to “Air Seychelles flight” and thanked him for choosing “Air Seychelles”. He was also reminded that “Air Seychelles crew” were there to make sure that his flight was pleasurable.
The ‘patriotic Kenyan and diehard KQ customer’ wonders what this was all about.
“The last time I checked, Air Seychelles was not a member of the Sky Team? So, is KQ marketing Air Seychelles? Is someone sabotaging our pride (KQ) in their own aircraft? Did someone pirate this in-flight entertainment content from Air Seychelles? Is Air Seychelles aware of this? Is KQ aware of this content? Or is this normal KQ business?” What was this all about KQ?
