"Gatanga family in the dark about daughter in Gulf"

A family in Gatanga, Murang'a county, is in distress over four months of chilling silence from their daughter Beatrice Waruguru, 30. Waruguru left her Gatanga home on February 22 to secure a job in Saudi Arabia, linked by a local agency. A month later she talked to her cousin James expressing fear for her life. “Napigwa na kuchomwa na pasi kila siku,” Waruguru said. This loosely translates to her being beaten and burnt by an iron everyday. After a week, James could not reach the employer again. He had been blocked. “I think her boss realised she had been communicating with me and blocked me,” James said...

Attempts by the family to get Waruguru back have been futile. The agency asked the family to raise Sh100,000 for Waruguru’s return ticket.The family’s effort to reach the agency for help has been met with insults and threats from their sub-agent. The family visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which referred them to the National Employment Authority and later to the Ministry of Labour. According to the National Employment Authority Foreign Recruitment regulations, in case a worker undergoes any form of distress, they should reach the family, home agent or visit the Saudi Embassy.

The home agency (Nadescol Agency) received a call from the Saudi Arabian Embassy informing them of Waruguru’s woes. However, the agent could not help because they claim her two-year contract is ongoing.