A devoted father of three is earnestly reaching out to the government for assistance in bringing his wife back from Saudi Arabia, where she reportedly left Kenya without informing him.
He shares that his wife quietly journeyed to the Gulf nation in search of work, leaving him to manage the responsibility of raising their three young school-aged children on his own.
On June 18, he dropped his wife off at her job at the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Kitengela, just like any other day. However, when he returned home that evening, she was missing.
He later discovered that she had allegedly traveled to Saudi Arabia through a recruitment agency based in Ruiru, Kiambu County, joining countless Kenyans who seek employment opportunities in the Gulf, particularly in domestic work.
In a heartfelt interview with the Daily Nation, this concerned father expressed the mounting challenges he faces since his wife’s departure, as he juggles work responsibilities with parenting their children alone.
“I’ve heard that she fell victim to agents misleading people about opportunities in Saudi Arabia. Since she left, life has been incredibly tough with the kids constantly asking where their mother is,” he shared.
He emphasized that there were no disagreements or marital issues that could have led her to leave in secrecy, and he is still trying to comprehend her choice to depart without notice.
Beyond the emotional strain on their family, he voiced serious concerns for his wife’s safety, referencing numerous reports over the years detailing the abuse and exploitation faced by Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
“I genuinely worry for those who travel to Saudi Arabia. Many either never return or endure horrific experiences, and then they complain about a lack of government support,” he expressed.
He passionately urged the government to enhance oversight of recruitment agencies, accusing some of enticing desperate job seekers with alluring job offers abroad, only for them to end up in harsh working conditions.
The father explained that the weight of caring for the children has become overwhelming, forcing him to take on responsibilities that he once shared with his wife.
“I’m really struggling to raise these children — finding food, washing their clothes. It feels like my marriage has crumbled due to these deceptive agents. She didn’t even have the means for an air ticket to travel there. She might return to Kenya empty-handed,” he lamented.
He voiced his fear that his wife could be forced to work for months without pay if her employer decides to withhold her wages to recover costs incurred during her travel arrangements.
“If the government is listening, my marriage is hanging by a thread because of these deceptive agents in Ruiru,” he pleaded.
His heartfelt appeal shines a light on the ongoing concerns regarding the welfare of Kenyan migrant workers in Gulf countries, an issue that continues to spark national discussions amid alarming reports of abuse, delayed salaries, poor working environments, and restrictions on workers’ mobility.
Over the years, many returnees have shared harrowing tales of physical and psychological abuse, confiscation of travel documents, excessive working hours, and abandonment by recruitment agencies after arriving in their destination countries.
In response to these challenges, the Kenyan government has recently intensified efforts to enhance the welfare of migrant workers by implementing reforms aimed at strengthening labor migration.
These initiatives include stricter regulations on recruitment agencies, establishing distress hotlines through Kenyan missions abroad, facilitating the repatriation of stranded or abused citizens, and collaborating with authorities in Gulf countries on labor protections.
Moreover, the government has partnered with Saudi authorities to enforce reforms, including the introduction of a mandatory minimum wage for Kenyan domestic workers, as part of a broader strategy to safeguard the rights and welfare of citizens seeking employment overseas.
