Kenyan Workers Stranded in Juba Accuse Recruiter Ann Kathure Rutere of Withholding Salaries
A group of Kenyan workers stranded in Juba, South Sudan, has renewed complaints against recruiter Ann Kathure Rutere, accusing her of failing to pay salaries they say are owed to them after she recruited them for employment. The workers, who have requested that their identities be withheld over fears of possible repercussions, say their situation has deteriorated as they struggle to survive away from home without the income they expected from their jobs. According to the workers, they travelled to South Sudan after being recruited for employment but claim that salaries they expected to receive have not been paid, leaving them financially strained and uncertain about their next move. The latest complaints put Rutere back in the spotlight, with the workers saying concerns about alleged non-payment had previously been raised but their grievances remain unresolved. “We are now stuck in Juba, South Sudan, and the situation has become increasingly difficult for us,” the workers said in their appeal. They say what began as an opportunity to earn a living abroad has instead left them struggling far from their families and without money they claim they legitimately earned. The workers are now appealing for intervention from relevant Kenyan authorities, asking officials to establish what happened to their salaries and assist them in finding a safe way out of their predicament. “We are Kenyans working away from home, and we simply want what we are owed and a safe way out of this difficult situation,” they said. The allegations raise questions that Rutere should be given an opportunity to answer, including how much money is allegedly outstanding, why the workers say they have not been paid, who their contractual employer is, and what arrangements are being made to resolve their situation in Juba. The workers are demanding answers and intervention before their circumstances deteriorate further.