Kenyan seafarers’ struggle and successful return after being stranded.

Four Kenyan seafarers, Abdulrahman Idd, Nuru Mwamba, Mwalimu Omar, and Tela Juma, left Kenya with hopes of improving their lives by working on board the Somali-flagged fishing vessel FV Saharla in Oman. However, their dreams were shattered when they found themselves stranded due to the vessel being in dry dock for repairs upon their arrival. The shipowner, of Somali origin but a U.S. citizen, abandoned the vessel, leaving the crew without pay for eight months and struggling to access food and essentials.

Despite efforts to seek assistance from the ship agent, Kenyan Embassy in Oman, and International Transport Workers’ Federation, the seafarers were left stranded. It wasn’t until the Kenyan government intervened that the four were repatriated back home in July. The government, having ratified the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006, ensured the seafarers’ safe return and is working towards holding the shipowner accountable for his actions.

Upon their return, the seafarers sought assistance from the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) to recover their eight-month salary totaling Sh1.5 million. KMA, although noting the seafarers were not engaged through licensed recruitment services, pledged to support them in filing wage claims. The Seafarer Union of Kenya and maritime experts emphasized the importance of protecting seafarers’ rights and welfare, urging adherence to international maritime labor regulations.

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