Over 600 Kenyans stranded in Cambodia in alleged trafficking case

Hundreds of Kenyan nationals stranded in Cambodia have petitioned the High Court in Nairobi, as reported by Africanews on February 24th.

They have asked judges to compel the government to secure their return home after what they describe as a human trafficking ordeal masked as overseas employment.

In court filings, the group says they travelled to Southeast Asia after being promised legitimate job opportunities, only to find themselves confined inside a heavily guarded compound. According to the petition, the site was surrounded by high walls and barbed wire, with strict controls over movement.

The Kenyans allege they were forced to work up to 16 hours a day under intense pressure to meet demanding targets. Some claim they suffered physical abuse and untreated injuries, including stab wounds. While the exact nature of the work was not detailed in the filings, Cambodian authorities have in recent months dismantled facilities linked to online fraud operations that have spread across parts of the region.

The situation reportedly changed after local security forces raided the compound, causing those running the operation to flee. The Kenyans say they were left behind and are now living in harsh conditions, without adequate food, medical care, or the financial means to return home.

Their petition asks the court to order Kenya’s foreign affairs ministry and other state agencies to provide immediate consular support, issue emergency travel documents, and arrange evacuation flights. The group argues that the Kenyan state has a constitutional duty to protect its citizens from exploitation, even when they are abroad.

Complicating matters further, the petitioners say Cambodian authorities have instructed them to leave the country by February 28 or face possible detention. Many say they cannot afford the cost of travel.

Kenya’s foreign ministry said it had not yet been formally briefed on the case, while Cambodian officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Judges in Nairobi are expected to consider the matter on February 24th, as calls grow for a coordinated response to what lawyers describe as a cross-border trafficking crisis.

Africanews, Maghrebi.org