Union urges state to rescue four Kenyan seafarers stranded in Oman

The Kenyan Seafarers Union has called on the Kenyan Government to urgently assist four seafarers stranded in Oman for over a year after they were abandoned by their employer.

The union's secretary general Atie Swaleh said the four, Juma Tella, Mwamba Nuru, Omar Mwalimu, and Abdulrahman Iddi were abandoned in Oman after their Somali-flagged fishing vessel FV Saharla ceased operations, leaving them stranded without pay or means of sustenance.

The union has called for diplomatic intervention to ensure the safe return of the four men to Kenya, where their families await their safe arrival.

The men are demanding to be paid their seven months' salary and be repatriated with free passage home.

"We urge the Kenyan government to prioritise the welfare of our stranded seafarers in Oman," Atie stated, urging swift action to address the humanitarian crisis faced by the affected seafarers.

According to Atie, the seafarers only received payment for the first eight months of their service and have since been left without wages or means of sustenance.

The ship's owner, identified as a Somali national and American citizen, allegedly could not afford the dry dock charges, leaving the crew in dire condition with dwindling food supplies and no financial resources to return home.

Exploitation 

"This situation is not uncommon among seafarers," Atie lamented, adding that the lack of employment opportunities locally drives many to seek work abroad, often facing exploitation and hardship.

Atie highlighted the challenges faced by Kenyan seafarers, including cases of mistreatment, arrests, and even deaths abroad, exacerbated by the lack of communication with authorities or the union.

"Before embarking on jobs abroad, seafarers must inform the union or Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA)," she stressed, emphasising their role in providing support and advocacy.

The secretary-general estimates that around 5,000 Kenyan seafarers are currently working abroad, yet the union and KMA lack accurate data.

"This lack of transparency poses risks, as seen in cases where youths were recruited for cruise ship jobs, only to be left unemployed and indebted," she said.

Atie called on maritime stakeholders and the government to address employment challenges faced by Kenyan seafarers, advocating for stringent vetting of recruitment agencies and improved oversight to protect workers' rights.

"At this critical time, we urge the government and maritime stakeholders to intervene swiftly. Our seafarers deserve better treatment and protection," Atie said.

Atie said the plight of these seafarers underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to safeguard the welfare of Kenyan workers in the maritime industry, ensuring they are adequately supported and protected both at home and abroad.