Rescued Kenyans tell about their work ordeal in Angola

Jacob Odungu and Fredrick Kiprotich at Nation Centre in Nairobi on February 25, 2015. They were rescued from slavery in Angola. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• They were promised lucrative jobs and left in high spirits only to end up in a labour camp.
• Lawyer for businesswoman says the two Kenyans are lying.

By SAMWEL BORN MAINA
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What appeared to be a turning point of good fortune for two men on a plane to Angola was, in fact, the beginning of their one year of slavery.

Mr Jacob Odungu Okoth and Mr Fredrick Kiprotich say they were promised good jobs but ended up as slaves.

They were working for a Nairobi-based construction company owned by an Ethiopian woman.

Mr Okoth and Mr Kiprotich told Saturday Nation that they endured hard labour for hours with little pay.

After a covert mission by different international agencies, the two were rescued and returned home last Saturday.

The rescue mission was launched after the Saturday Nation highlighted their plight a few weeks ago and their employer released their passports.

But their return was not without incident. The employer had refused to hand over the passport and they were issued with emergency travel papers by the Namibian embassy.

“We went to the airport but before we boarded the plane, she came with armed police officers who called us terrorists and took us into custody,” Mr Kiprotich said.

“It was very embarrassing. We have since been cleared by the police. She wields a lot of power in Angola.”

WITHOUT PERMITS

When they landed in Luanda a year ago, their passports were taken. “She took our passports. We worked for a whole year without visas and work permits,” the two said.

“We were confined to a construction camp doing hard labour. We never enjoyed any form of freedom until you, the Nation, published our story.”

Mr Okoth, an architecture graduate from The Technical University of Kenya, went to Angola in 2013 after working for the firm in Kenya for a month.

East African Legislative Assembly Member Peter Mathuki rescued another Kenyan, Onesmus Kyanui, who also claimed to have been enslaved.

“I was there. I know what it feels like. I missed death by a whisker but thanks to the MP, I was rescued and given a new lease of life after months of suffering,” the logistics expert said from Luanda by phone, who now works for another company in Angola.

Saturday Nation highlighted the plight of 11 Kenyans but only two were rescued. The fate of the remaining nine is unknown.

Mr Okoth said combined efforts by the International Organisation for Migration, the Kenya government and Interpol led to their freedom.

Her lawyer Denis Mosota said the claims of slavery were untrue.

“She is a respected businessperson who adheres to work ethics and has never mistreated anyone or taken away basic freedoms of her employees,” Mr Mosota said on Friday.

“These people saying they were mistreated are lying.” 

IOM processed their travel documents and organised for their accommodation in Angola as they waited to be flown home.

“Were it not for that article, we could be in deep trouble now,” he said.

“We used to work from 6am to 6.30pm every day. We were never allowed to rest even during holidays and weekends. But without our documents we could not walk out of the camp because we risked being arrested,” Mr Okoth said.