Anthony Mbare had hoped that moving to Europe would improve his life and his family. He was willing to do anything possible to get out of the shrinked job market in Kenya, and when he got an opportunity for a job in UK, Mbare jumped on it.

The father of three paid Sh. 457,400 (£2,500) to secure a job in Britain through a visa sponsorship. In 2022, he got his visa and relocated together with his family.

The deal was a job promise that would oay him Sh. 3.9 million (£21,200) annual salary. However, when he arrived in UK and started working, reality of how things were on the ground hit hom.

He worked as a caretaker for the elderly, and worked for up to sixteen hours per day. This was contrary to the terms of employment, under which he had been promised that hr would only work for 40 hours per week. He was also getting paid less money than he had been promised.

Apparently, Mbare earned up to Sh. 201,200 (£1,100) monthly. This was less than the Sh. 323,200 (£1,766) monthly salary he had been promised when he relocated.

At the same time, his employer had also mandated him to acquire a vehicle, which further ate into his earnings.

Eventually, his employer sacked him due to his constant complaints over work conditions. The employer further refused to provide him with a job reference letter.

Hellen Obiri: Why I left Kenya with my family to live in the US

Mbare started to apply for other care jobs in the United Kingdom. He got invites to attend interviews, but without a job reference letter, he says that his employment prospects were dimmed.

He was given a 60-day window to find employment or face deportation. As the days passed by, Mbare decided to return home to Kenya. He now resides at his hometown in Juja, Kiambu County where he works as a carpenter. It is this home town that just one year ago, he left with the belief that he had changed his life for the better.

“I thought this job in UK would make my life better,” he said.

To  make matters worse, Mbare has debts of up to Sh. 1.8 million (£10,000) which he raked in from his move from Kenya to the UK.