When immigration status becomes a weapon; A Congolese national’s search for elusive justice
The article explores the vulnerability of undocumented migrants in East Africa, focusing on the story of a Congolese tailor living in Kenya. It highlights how lack of legal status can be exploited by employers and others to deny justice and fair treatment.
Why it matters
It sheds light on the intersection of migration policy, labor exploitation, and the systemic barriers faced by undocumented workers seeking legal recourse.
He had been told there was work waiting for him in Nairobi as a tailor. With his skills, he expected to earn a living, support his family and build a future. But the journey did not unfold as promised.
Instead of Nairobi, Jean found himself in western Kenya, in unfamiliar surroundings and uncertain circumstances. The work he had been promised was not what he expected.
The place where he was taken to live offered little comfort. At one point, he recalls sleeping in a rat-infested house where rainwater came through the roof. He endured.
For migrants moving across borders in search of work, the journey from opportunity to vulnerability can be a short one.
Across Africa, established migration corridors connect people to employment opportunities in neighbouring countries and beyond.
The Uganda-Kenya corridor is one such route, facilitating the movement of people, goods, skills and labour across borders.
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