Hiring agencies to face vetting in wake of abuses abroad

Some Kenyan migrant workers have died under unclear circumstances. Some of those who are lucky to escape death have ended up with mental illnesses because of torture and other forms of mistreatment.

"As part of the agencies' undertaking, they are supposed to repatriate any worker they send abroad should the worker express interest to come back. That is why they deposit a security bond so that in the event they fail to honour that undertaking, the ministry can use the security bond to bring back any Kenyan in distress," said Chelugui.

The Labour Committee of the previous Parliament, in a report, blamed the sufferings of Kenyans working in foreign countries on the recruitment agencies.