Catherine Wambui’s journey from Kenya to Iraq in 2020 began with aspirations for a better life but devolved into a nightmarish ordeal that exposed the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers abroad.....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Securing a two-year contract as a house manager, Wambui left her homeland with hopes of improved opportunities. However, the conclusion of her contract in 2022 marked the beginning of a harrowing experience that would test her resilience and shine a light on the situation of Kenyan migrants in foreign lands.
When Wambui expressed her desire to return to Kenya at the end of her contract, she encountered unexpected resistance from her employer. Despite her mental and emotional struggles in Iraq, her employer pressured her to extend her stay.
In response to Wambui’s refusal to comply, her employer not only withheld her ticket home but also confiscated her passport, effectively trapping her in Iraq. The situation took a dire turn when, instead of facilitating her repatriation, the immigration department handed her over to Iraqi authorities.
Wambui’s subsequent incarceration in a maximum security prison exposed her to deplorable conditions that violated basic human rights. Overcrowded cells forced detainees to sleep in sitting positions, while inadequate facilities and a lack of essential provisions further compounded their suffering.
Fortunately, the prison began releasing some detainees during Ramadan in 2023. Wambui finally secured her freedom thanks to financial assistance from her parents in Kenya who wired money for her plane ticket. However, other Kenyans remained unjustly detained in the Basra prison, despite having committed no crimes in Iraq.
Diaspora communities have continued to emphasize the urgent need for greater protection of migrant workers’ rights and improved diplomatic efforts to safeguard citizens abroad. According to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, 150 Kenyan citizens are in Iraq. However, this figure excludes the number of Kenyans in Iraqi prisons…CONTINUE READING>>
