Kenyan Worker Stranded in UAE After Workplace Injury
A Kenyan expatriate in Dubai says he lost his job after suffering a workplace injury and is now stranded in the United Arab Emirates without income or secure housing.
Suleiman Musalia, who previously worked for Green Spring Recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Co. L.L.C., says his difficulties began in June 2025 when he injured his leg while at work. He says initial medical examinations indicated that he needed specialist trauma care, but his treatment was delayed by conflicting medical advice and financial challenges.
According to Musalia, a trauma specialist recommended an X-ray, but he could not afford the procedure. He alleges that this led to a disagreement with the doctor and that, after his employer became involved, the medical assessment changed.
He claims the doctor then concluded that the injury would heal without further treatment. Several months later, his employer referred him back to hospital, but he says the process was delayed again.
Musalia says he did not receive continued medical support. Instead, he was issued with warning letters before being dismissed for allegedly failing to pursue treatment. He disputes the allegation, saying he had been waiting for specialist appointments that had been slow to materialise.
He says his salary stopped in December 2025 and that, when he sought to collect unpaid wages, he was asked to sign documents terminating his employment contract. He later sought assistance from the labour office and the Kenyan Embassy in Abu Dhabi, but says neither was able to resolve his situation.
In March 2026, he filed a legal case against his employer, although he says the matter has yet to be heard. During that time, he has depended on friends for accommodation and now faces eviction from company housing after being informed that his case had been dismissed.
Musalia’s case highlights the difficulties migrant workers can face after suffering workplace injuries abroad. Without regular medical treatment, a stable income or effective support, injured workers may struggle to meet their basic needs while waiting for legal disputes to be resolved.
Musalia is appealing for intervention, saying stronger safeguards are needed to protect injured workers from losing both their employment and access to basic support while pursuing legal claims in a foreign country.
