Eight Kenyan families are in anguish, pleading with the government to intervene and bring home their loved ones who are detained in Libya.
The men, who travelled to the North African country in search of construction jobs, now find themselves behind bars in Benghazi. What began as a promise of employment has turned into a nightmare, with unpaid wages and imprisonment prominent features.
Those in Libyan prison include: John Okutohi – Kakamega, Victor Gathua – Nakuru, Keneddy Wanyehia – Nyeri, Juma Njehia – Mombasa, Kevin Riguini – Nyeri, Collins Koech – Kapsabet, James Opiyo – Mombasa, Paul Njehia – Nakuru.
Citizen TV has been speaking to relatives and witnesses who painted a disturbing picture of exploitation and abandonment abroad.
The ordeal of a group of Kenyan workers who have been trapped for over six weeks began with construction jobs arranged through recruitment agents spanning Dubai, Uganda and Kenya. But once on the ground, language barriers and unpaid salaries quickly spiralled into chaos, according to family and witnesses in Libya.
Speaking to Citizen TV, Monica Wanjiru, who is in Libya, says her friends were taken to a facility described as a prison beneath a military base in Benghazi.
“Tarehe 21/3/2026 kulikuwa na misunderstanding, kulikuwa na Mkenya mmoja alikuwa anapiga simu kwa familia yake akiwa amelean kwa ukuta, Msudanese mmoja akaenda kumuuliza kwanini amelean kwa ukuta, na juu Mkenya haelewi Kiarabu akamjibu na kizungu sasa Msudanese akaona kizungu imemlemea, juu ya kiburi akamfuata kutaka kumchapa, kijana akaingia accomodation ju Msudanese aliona itakua ngumu akakimbia kuita ma security,” said Kenyan worker Monica Wanjiru.
It is at this point that Wanjiru alleges matters went south. The security guards are said to have come up with trumped-up charges of possession of crude weapons, abduction of security guards and use of alcohol against the Kenyans.
“Pombe ni haram sana kwa hii country na sababu ma security hawataki kupoteza kazi yao walienda wakachukua pombe wakawawekelea na wakabeba visu za jikoni na mapanga wakasema walikuwa wamekidnap security,” said Monica.
The families say recruitment agents, operating across borders, facilitated their travel and visas, but were nowhere to be found when things went wrong.
“If it is possible hizo agencies zifungwe. The agency ilitumika kupeleka Victor inaitwa Al-Majihur iko hapa Westlands,” said Victor Gathua, a cousin to Monica Njeri.
Mother to Geofrey Riguini, Rachael Nyokabi Riguini, on her part said, “Mimi nimelipa Ksh. 50K kwa agent inaitwa Grajoha. Tangu watoto washikwe tarehe 21st sikuambiwa na agent wameshikwa.”
Caroline Wamae, the mother to Kenneth Wanjehia Wamae, added, “Nikapigia agent alinipelekea mtoto wangu akaniambia nimpee 50,000 aniletee mtoto wangu.”
Citizen TV has established that they were transported from Jomo Kenyatta Airport to Cairo, Egypt, before landing in Benghazi Benina International Airport.
The situation has sparked urgent calls for repatriation from the families. They want the government’s help in contacting their kin and hopefully securing their return. The signs early on have not been encouraging.
“Nlienda embassy nikaambiwa hata hawana any tracking wanaweza wapata nayo, nikaenda foreign affairs nikapatiana photocopy ya passport yao vile walienda kuangalia wakapata hawakupitia kwa embassy na huko Libya hawana embassy,” said Wanjiru.
In a country without a central authority, time is running out for Kenyans stranded in Benghazi.
