A Kenyan man has moved to court seeking damages for what he terms as a gross violation of his rights and fundamental freedoms after allegedly being trafficked to Myanmar under false pretenses.
Duncan Okindo, the petitioner in the case, claims he was lured with the promise of a customer service job in Bangkok, Thailand, only to be smuggled by boat across the Moei River into Myanmar.
There, he says he was forced to work in a scam compound, performing complex cyber fraud operations.
In his petition, Okindo accuses Gratify Solutions International Ltd, Virginia Wacheke Muriithi, and other individuals of orchestrating and facilitating his trafficking.
He alleges that the respondents engaged in human trafficking, modern slavery, servitude, and exploitation, acts he says were in total disregard of his dignity and constitutional rights.
“Contrary to public interest, safety, and protection of vulnerable persons, the Respondents are currently engaged in acts of human trafficking, modern slavery, and practices akin to slavery, in violation of the right to human dignity under Article 28 of the Constitution, the right to freedom and security of the person under Article 29, and the prohibition against slavery, servitude, and forced labour Article 30 and 41 of the Constitution,” read the court documents.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court has since certified the petition as urgent.
The court has also restrained Gratify Solutions International Ltd from recruiting or exporting Kenyan workers abroad pending hearing and determination of the case.
Okindo through his lawyer Lilian Nyangasi also claims he was subjected to a forced HIV test and denied his freedom of movement, adding that his ordeal is part of a larger syndicate targeting vulnerable job seekers from the United States and other countries.
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