A group of Kenyans are stranded in Cambodia after falling victim to alleged human trafficking.
They have made a desperate plea for help, exposing a painful story of deception, suffering and uncertainty far from home.
For over a month and a half, the victims say they have been trapped in a foreign country with no means of returning to Kenya, their hopes of rescue fading with each passing day.
In a message sent to lawyer Danstan Omari, the distress is unmistakable.
“Hello sir, good evening. We’re reaching out in desperation. 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.”
The message, shared among a group identifying themselves as “Team Cambodia,” paints a picture of young Kenyans who say they were lured abroad by promises of jobs, only to find themselves abandoned and struggling to survive.
According to the victims, they travelled to Cambodia on one-way tickets under the promise of employment opportunities.
They say they were issued with tourist visas, but upon arrival, the situation quickly changed.
Instead of the jobs they had been promised, they claim they were forced into exploitative work under unclear circumstances, including being issued work permits they did not fully understand.
Through their lawyers, Danstan Omari and Shadrack Wambui, the victims further alleged during a press briefing that some of them who managed to escape into Thailand have since been given up to February 28 to return to Kenya, failing which they risk facing legal consequences, including possible imprisonment.
The victims recount deeply disturbing experiences, alleging they were subjected to inhumane treatment while in Cambodia.
One young Kenyan woman described how, after failing to meet assigned targets, she was allegedly taken into a dark room where individuals attempted to sexually assault her.
She says she fought back and narrowly escaped, later regaining consciousness in a forest where she had been abandoned.
Others allege they were confined in dark rooms and forced to work in scam operations under constant threats.
When they failed to meet targets, they claim they were subjected to punishment, including electric shocks in some cases, in the private parts of their bodies.
Several victims also spoke of physical abuse and extreme deprivation, alleging that they were beaten, starved, and at times given food only once every three days.
While these claims have not been independently verified, they reflect the trauma and fear described by those who say they lived through the ordeal.
Some of the victims say they managed to escape into neighbouring Thailand, but even there, safety has not translated into stability.
Without money, legal clarity or support, they remain stranded, unable to move forward and unable to return home.
They say their attempts to seek assistance from the Kenyan embassy have been unsuccessful.
Screenshots shared within the group show officials maintaining that the embassy does not have funds to facilitate repatriation.
“From day one, 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,” an official stated in one message.
