Wednesday, January
21, 2026 - A Kenyan woman who is stranded in Cambodia has made a desperate
plea to the Government, warning that she and more than 100 other Kenyans are
being held in unsafe conditions and face a serious risk of human trafficking.
In a distress message seen on Wednesday, Nancy Akinyi, a
resident of Kibra in Nairobi, said the situation was deteriorating rapidly,
with restricted movement, intimidation and growing threats to their safety.
“We are more than 100 Kenyans being held under threatening
conditions, and there is a serious risk that we may be sold into human
trafficking.”
"We are not free to leave; we are intimidated, and our
lives are in danger. The situation is very urgent and getting worse,” Akinyi
said.
She revealed that she traveled to Cambodia in May 2025 on a
visit visa after being recruited by an agency that promised employment
opportunities in cosmetology.
However, she said the reality upon arrival was drastically
different, alleging that some members of the group had been threatened,
punished or physically assaulted.
In her appeal, Akinyi urged the Kenyan Government to
intervene urgently to secure their safety and facilitate their return home.
“We urgently request immediate intervention, protection,
rescue, and assistance to return safely to Kenya. We are ready to share our
location and all details securely,” she said.
Attempts to seek help from Cambodian immigration authorities
were unsuccessful.
“We don’t have a Kenyan embassy here, and the migration
office told me to buy a ticket and leave, even though they knew I was being
detained and beaten,” she added.
The revelations have renewed concerns over human trafficking
syndicates targeting Kenyan job seekers abroad, particularly women lured with
promises of employment.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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