A chilling cry for help has emerged from Cambodia after a Kenyan woman revealed that she and more than 100 other Kenyans are trapped in what she describes as dangerous, inhuman conditions, with looming fears of being sold into human and sex trafficking networks.
Nancy Akinyi, a resident of Kibra in Nairobi County, says the group is living in constant fear, with their movements restricted, their freedom curtailed, and their safety increasingly under threat. Speaking in a distress interview on Wednesday, Akinyi painted a grim picture of intimidation, abuse, and abandonment far from home.
“We are not free to leave. We are being intimidated and our lives are in danger. There is a serious risk that we may be sold into human trafficking. The situation is urgent and getting worse by the day,” she said.
Akinyi revealed that she travelled to Cambodia in May 2025 on a visit visa after being recruited by an agency that promised her employment opportunities in cosmetology. Like many young Kenyans seeking greener pastures abroad, she believed the offer would open doors to a better life.
Instead, she says, the reality on the ground was drastically different.
Upon arrival, she and other Kenyans allegedly found themselves confined, monitored, and subjected to threats. Some have reportedly been punished or physically assaulted, intensifying fears that the group could be sold to trafficking syndicates operating in the region.
Perhaps most alarming is Akinyi’s claim that attempts to seek help from local authorities yielded nothing.
“We don’t have a Kenyan embassy here. When I went to the immigration office and explained that we were being detained and beaten, they simply told me to buy a ticket and leave,” she said.
With no diplomatic mission on the ground and limited resources, the stranded Kenyans say they are effectively trapped, unable to secure safe passage home on their own.
Akinyi has now made a direct and emotional appeal to the Kenyan government, urging immediate intervention to rescue and repatriate them.
“We urgently request protection, rescue, and assistance to return safely to Kenya. We are ready to share our location and all details securely,” she pleaded.
The revelations have reignited national concern over human trafficking networks targeting desperate job seekers, particularly women, with fake overseas employment promises. Southeast Asia has increasingly been flagged as a hotspot for such syndicates, exploiting victims through coercion, confinement, and violence.
The case also comes against the backdrop of earlier warnings by Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli, who urged Kenyans working abroad to register with Kenyan embassies and consulates to enable swift government intervention during crises.
However, Akinyi’s ordeal highlights a harsh reality: for Kenyans stranded in countries without diplomatic representation, access to help can be painfully limited.
As pressure mounts on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, human rights advocates are calling for urgent diplomatic engagement with Cambodian authorities and a coordinated rescue mission.
For now, Akinyi and dozens of other Kenyans remain trapped—fearful, unheard, and waiting—hoping that their desperate appeal will finally prompt action before it is too late.
