By Andrew Kariuki
A group of Kenyans stranded in Cambodia after falling victim to alleged human trafficking has issued a desperate plea for help, raising serious concerns over their safety and the government’s response to their dillema.
In a message seeking legal intervention, the victims say they were lured to Cambodia under false promises, only to find themselves abandoned and unable to return home.
“Hello sir, good evening. We’re reaching out in desperation,” reads part of the message sent to Kenyan lawyer Danstan Omari. “We were victims of human trafficking, brought to Cambodia and left stranded. It’s been a month and a half now, we’re unable to afford return tickets home.”
According to the victims, their situation has become increasingly dire, with no clear pathway back to Kenya due to financial constraints.
Through their lawyers, Danstan Omari and Shadrack Wambui, the victims further alleged during a press briefing that those who managed to escape into Thailand have been given up to February 28 to return to Kenya, failing which they risk facing legal action, including possible imprisonment.
According to the victims, they were lured to Cambodia with promises of employment opportunities, only to be issued with tourist visas and one-way tickets.
Upon arrival, they claim they were instead forced into exploitative working conditions after being issued work permits under unclear circumstances.
The victims allege that they were subjected to inhumane treatment, including torture and forced labour in scam operations.
One young Kenyan woman recounted that after failing to meet assigned targets, she was allegedly taken into a dark room where individuals attempted to sexually assault her.
She stated that she fought back and narrowly escaped unconsciousness, only to later find herself abandoned in a forest, left for dead.
Others claimed they were confined in dark rooms and forced to work under constant threats and when they failed to meet targets, they were allegedly subjected to electric shocks, including in sensitive parts of their bodies such as their private parts.
Additional accounts described severe physical abuse, starvation and deprivation, with some victims alleging they were given food only once every three days.
Although these claims have not been independently verified, they paint a distressing picture of the conditions the victims say they endured while trapped in Cambodia.
After escaping to Thailand, they say attempts to seek assistance from the Kenyan embassy have yielded little help.
“The embassy’s response is telling us to arrange our own travel to get home,” the message adds.
The victims, who have remained in a group communication channel identified as “Team Cambodia,” say they are struggling to survive while stranded in a foreign country, with limited resources and growing uncertainty about their future.
Screenshots from the group indicate that embassy officials have maintained that they do not have funds to facilitate repatriation.
In one message shared within the group, an official explains that from the beginning, the embassy had been clear that it does not assist with travel costs for those seeking to return home.
“I have told you that the Embassy does not assist in repatriations as we have no funds for repatriation. I have remained consistent on that,” the message reads.
In a blatant move of what can be seen as lack of empathy, the official further urged members of the group to maintain decorum, noting that the platform includes government officials and that discussions criticizing leadership should be taken elsewhere.
For the stranded Kenyans, however, such responses have only deepened their frustration and sense of abandonment.
They insist they are victims of trafficking and not ordinary travellers, arguing that their situation warrants urgent intervention.
“We humbly request your legal intervention to help us get assistance from the Kenyan government,” the victims humbly appealed.
“Your expertise and influence could be our only hope in getting back home safely.” They continued.
Human trafficking remains a growing concern globally, with victims often lured abroad through promises of lucrative employment, only to be exploited or abandoned.
Without adequate support systems, many find themselves trapped in foreign countries, unable to return home.
The situation of the Kenyans in Cambodia highlights the challenges faced by victims seeking repatriation, especially where financial assistance is not readily available.
As their ordeal stretches into weeks, the victims say time is running out and they fear for their safety and well-being if urgent help is not provided.
Their appeal now raises pressing questions about the extent of government responsibility in assisting citizens who fall victim to trafficking abroad and whether more can be done to bring them home.
