Is It Fair For Kenyan Employees To Be Dismissed In South Sudan?

By Elizabeth Benu

Recently thousands of Kenyans working in South Sudan had been at risk of losing their jobs through a directive by the South Sudanese government to ban employment of foreigners.

According to the standard, the Government had given all private companies including foreign aid agencies and non-government organizations one month’s notice to terminate employment of all non-South Sudanese workers.

This is an issue that caused uproar amongst Kenyans and here are few opinions of Kenyans on whether it would have been fair for Kenyan employees to be dismissed in South Sudan

“In my opinion this is very fair. If a government sees it fit to offer employment opportunities to its people where is the problem with that? I am sure if it was Kenya that was giving the directive it would have been warmly received. I think people should learn to understand that not everybody can be pleased,” says Kenneth Njuguna a waiter at a hotel in the Nairobi CBD.

Faith Kiseli is of a different opinion

“This is an unfair deal. A one month notice is too short and really unfair. Where do you expect people to find a job in a month’s time? A month is too short a notice and it is not fair to remove hardworking people from their positions just to give locals a chance to get employment. It does not work that way.” Ms Kiseli adds.

I think this is just a political perception that countries should always return a favor. Whether they lose a job or still keep it, it makes no difference. People should just learn to create employment and not wholly rely on getting employed somewhere. After all if the directive came to be there is nothing these Kenyans would have done than o come back home,” Mr. Caleb Onyango says.

Mercy Mwaniki* does not seem disturbed by this issue.

“I never understand why people look for jobs abroad. Why are people not satisfied in their own countries? I fell that it was fair enough because those Kenyans should be in Kenya helping to develop our country instead of being in another country,” Ms Mwaniki adds

Dennis Khumbai says that it would have been unfair to both parties.

“For Kenyans, it would have been hard losing a job there and starting over again is usually an exhausting affair. It would also have been unfair for the South Sudanese government because it would take time to train the new workforce,” Mr. Khumbai explains

Ms. Kiseli concludes by adding that, “I could consider starting a business there because with that directive it showed that the South Sudan people are hardworking enough for the government to pass such a policy knowing it would hurt its relations with other countries.”

In your opinion was it fair?

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