Government probes Kisumu sugar firm over 'illegal' Asian workers

Some of the foreign workers suspected to be in the country illegally leave Kibos Sugar Mill premises during lunch break to a nearby residential area. [PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR/STANDARD]

KENYA: Kisumu Immigration department is looking for suspected illegal migrants believed to be working at Kibos Sugar Company.

The State Department on Tuesday conducted a raid at Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries where suspected illegal workers from Asia are believed to be working illegally.

The raid, however, bore no fruit as the alleged foreigners workers allegedly sought refuge in a nearby Temple.

Speaking to The Standard Wednesday, Assistant Director of Immigration Peter Karoki said due to procedural issues, they could not enter the temple to carry out arrests.

"Our officers only managed to get foreign workers with valid documents. We believe the suspects may have gotten wind of our intentions and disappeared into the temple located in the facility," he said.

He added: "We are also contacting the temple's chairman to warn him against harbouring suspected aliens. We will definitely come back to conduct another raid."

 GUARDED COMPOUND

Mr Karoko noted that arresting and charging such people is complex as it requires enough evidence.

"For you to sustain a case in court, you have to find them working. We are told they were taken to the temple but we cannot say they were working, since we didn't get them in action," he said.

Karoko is worried the suspects are likely to leave the company because they know the authority is aware of their existence.

"Even if we don't get them, it is a plus because they are on the run and won't be working. We also believe the owner of the mill could be harbouring some illegal immigrants or workers whose permits have expired, but that is subject to further investigations," he said.

The mill relies on foreign workers to do maintenance, while some specialised employees may have genuine documents. The firm is also known to have special machines, mainly operated and maintained by foreign workers.

The Standard has since established that some of the foreign employees can't speak in English or Kiswahili. They also stay at a heavily guarded compound near the company, and sleep in school-like dormitories.

Some workers who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being fired said foreigners working at the firm number about 450, and enjoy special treatment and pay.

"Some of them are paid to do domestic work and cultivate sugarcane plantations, but are paid three times what locals earn. They are also served food like school children by lining up and have a shop in the compound. They rarely mix with locals," disclosed a worker.

He said they are mainly hired as workshop and boiler attendants, priests, supervisors and mechanics.

SPECIALISED SKILLS

Kibos Managing Director Raju Chanan confirmed that workers from India have been contracted to work at the factory. "We are constructing a power plant now. After that we will construct a paper and pulp plant before finally building a distiller," Mr Chanan said.

He said some sugar companies in the region also have contracts with manufacturers where a specialised team would be sent to maintain the mills at a given time.

"These people have special skills that cannot be sourced locally. There are almost 300 Indians working on the boiler in Mumias Sugar Factory and some are also at Butali. It is not a crime to have them," he said.

Chanan also refuted claims there are 450 foreigners at the company, and showed The Standard a list of 105 foreigners who were issued with work permits last year. "These are only 105 foreigners," Mr Chanan said.