Hundreds of Kenyan nationals stranded in Cambodia have petitioned the High Court of Kenya, seeking orders to compel the government to facilitate their return home after what they describe as a human trafficking ordeal disguised as overseas employment.
In court filings lodged in Nairobi, the group says they traveled to Southeast Asia after being promised legitimate job opportunities. Instead, they allege they were confined in a heavily guarded compound surrounded by high walls and barbed wire, with their movements strictly controlled.
According to the petition, the Kenyans were forced to work grueling shifts of up to 16 hours a day under intense pressure to meet strict performance targets. Some claim they suffered physical abuse, with reports of untreated injuries, including stab wounds.
While the filings do not specify the exact nature of the work, they note that Cambodian authorities have recently cracked down on facilities suspected of running online fraud operations, part of a broader regional crackdown on cybercrime networks.
The situation reportedly changed when local security forces raided the compound, causing those managing the operation to flee. The Kenyan nationals say they were abandoned at the site and are now living in harsh conditions, lacking sufficient food, medical care, and the financial means to return home.
In their petition, the group is asking the court to direct Kenya’s foreign affairs ministry and other relevant state agencies to urgently intervene. They are seeking consular support, temporary travel documents, and evacuation arrangements. The applicants argue that the Kenyan state has a constitutional duty to protect its citizens from exploitation, even when they are abroad.
The petitioners further claim that Cambodian authorities have ordered them to leave the country by February 28 or face possible detention and other legal consequences. Many say they cannot afford airfare or other travel costs.
Kenya’s foreign ministry said it had not yet received a formal briefing on the matter, while officials in Cambodia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Judges in Nairobi are expected to hear the case on Tuesday, as calls intensify for a coordinated government response to what lawyers describe as a cross-border human trafficking crisis.
