A family in Pombo, Kwanza Constituency, Trans Nzoia County is now worried about the well-being of their daughter who has been held hostage in Saudi Arabia.
Betty Wanjala left her village on October 3, 2020, for the Gulf country to serve as a domestic worker in order to raise funds to support her two children and her mother.
But Wanjala’s mother, Fenike Ondusa, told K24 Digital that her daughter’s tribulations started when she demanded salary from her employer.
“When she once asked for salary, she was told off and threatened with death. Her boss claimed that she had bought her,” Ondusa said her daughter had told her.
With tears rolling down her cheeks, she revealed that her daughter had to lock herself inside her employer’s bathroom after she threatened to pull the trigger on her.
“She told me that the bathroom saved her from her boss who wanted to kill her using a gun. She was later rescued by a good Samaritan” she said.
Family appeals for help
The family in agony said they cannot raise Ksh400,000 to facilitate her air ticket back home.
“Her passport was confiscated. We are stuck because we can’t raise 400,000 shillings needed for her journey back home. We are therefore appealing for help because we need her alive,” she appealed.
Emma Wanjala, on her part, claimed that her younger sister, Betty, has since developed blood pressure and is currently battling an unknown cardiac condition as well as renal disease.
She added that Betty had been raped multiple times while working at her employer’s house.
“When we talked last, she was in pain, she said she had developed blood pressure. She said she suspected that her heart was not in good condition and that her kidneys were damaged. In fact, in one of the photos she shared, her feet were swollen” Wanjala said.
She further called on President William Ruto to intervene so that all Kenyans stuck in Saudi Arabia can be deported while they are still alive.
“Our President William Ruto, you are our only hope, please let us not wait until all the girls who are suffering in Saudi Arabia die so that we act, help us,” she pleaded.
The family reported that their efforts to reach out to the agency that sent their daughter to Saudi Arabia have been futile.
James Mwangi, Bidii ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) said all the agencies’ licenses should be revoked and fresh vetting conducted.
“It cannot be business as usual. All the agencies engaging in this business should be vetted afresh so that we weed out rogue ones,” Mwangi said.
