More Than 600 Kenyans in Cambodia Allege Trafficking, Forced Labour and Demand Urgent Government Rescue
A shocking crisis involving Kenyans in Cambodia has emerged at the turn of February 2026, with more than 600 citizens petitioning Kenya’s High Court to compel the government to secure their urgent evacuation and repatriation from alleged human trafficking and forced labour conditions.
The group’s legal action, filed on February 23 asserts that they were lured by fraudulent recruitment agents with promises of legitimate employment opportunities in Southeast Asia, only to find themselves confined against their will in Cambodia under brutal conditions.
Kenyans in Cambodia: Recruitment Scam Turning to Crisis
According to court filings presented in Nairobi, the stranded Kenyans allege that individuals operating as bogus employment agents convinced them to pay substantial fees for “lucrative jobs” in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Upon arrival, their passports, phones and documents were reportedly confiscated, leaving them effectively powerless and undocumented.
Once in-country, the group claims they were placed in heavily guarded compounds surrounded by high perimeter walls and razor wire, forced to work upwards of 16 hours a day under threat of violence to meet extreme targets.
Several petitioners reported severe physical abuse including beatings, electrocution and stab wounds — and lack of access to medical treatment, food or adequate shelter.
Kenyans in Cambodia: Alarming Legal Action in Nairobi
In their constitutional petition, the applicants argue that their treatment violates fundamental human rights protections under Kenya’s Constitution, including freedom from torture, forced labour and cruel or degrading treatment.
Represented by lawyers including Danstan Omari and Shadrach Wambui, the petitioners are asking for conservatory orders compelling the Kenyan government to:
- Verify the identities and whereabouts of all affected citizens.
- Provide direct consular assistance via the Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Ministry.
- Issue emergency travel documents to those without valid passports.
- Arrange and fund evacuation flights back to Kenya within a strict timeline.
The government’s failure to act, the petition warns, could leave citizens facing potential legal consequences in Cambodia if they remain past a mandated February 28 deadline or risk arrest and detention by local authorities.
Government Response and Diplomatic Pushback to the Kenyans in Cambodia Crisis
At the time of writing, a Kenyan Foreign Affairs ministry spokesperson said they were “not aware of the case as filed,” underscoring a disconnect between stranded citizens and state diplomatic channels.
Meanwhile, Cambodian officials told Reuters the suggestion that Kenyans could face legal action over overstaying was a “misunderstanding,” clarifying that foreigners previously rescued from scam compounds are held in safety shelters while formal repatriation discussions occur with relevant embassies.
The situation highlights complex diplomatic challenges as Kenya seeks to protect its nationals abroad while Cambodia contends with proliferating scam and fraud operations that have drawn attention from international law enforcement and human rights advocates.
Kenyans in Cambodia: Public and Civil Society Reactions
Public reaction in Kenya has been mixed, with many citizens expressing outrage on social media at the apparent exploitation and kinship betrayal that led to this predicament.
Human rights groups have also criticized the government’s slow response and called for a thorough investigation into how Kenyan citizens were targeted by recruiters for overseas work a loophole that appears to have facilitated cross-border trafficking. Civil society organizations emphasize the need for tighter regulation of recruitment agencies and preventive public awareness campaigns.
Experts warn that unless Kenya strengthens pre-departure protections and intergovernmental cooperation, the country’s diaspora will remain vulnerable to similar scams in Southeast Asia and beyond.
Broader Implications for Migration and Security
This emerging crisis places a harsh spotlight on the systemic vulnerabilities in cross-border employment recruitment, particularly for young job seekers in Kenya. It underscores the potential for exploitation when oversight is weak and job scarcity drives migrants to take risks.
The Kenyans in Cambodia case also mirrors broader global trends in transnational trafficking, where victims are often coerced or deceived into exploitative situations far from home. Lawyers for the petitioners argue this represents not just an individual crisis but a collective failure requiring structural reforms in how Kenya protects its diaspora.
Court Hearing and Possible Resolution
The Nairobi High Court is expected to hear the case imminently as the deadline looms, with significant legal and diplomatic consequences hanging in the balance. Should the court grant the requested orders, pressure will mount on Kenyan ministries to coordinate swiftly with Cambodian authorities and secure safe passage home for the stranded nationals.
As this situation develops, Kenyans in Cambodia and their advocates continue to seek justice, safety and a rapid end to what they call a harrowing ordeal that began with a promise of opportunity and turned into a fight for freedom and return.
