By Antony Gitonga
A family in Gilgil is calling on the Government to intervene over their daughter who is being held in Saudi Arabia.
The family from Ngomongo village was left traumatised after the 22-year-old daughter called them alleging sexual abuse by her employer before her phone went dead.
And for the last three days, the family of Damaris Wangui has been trying to get in touch with her in vain. Speaking to the Press in Naivasha, family members narrated how Wambui screamed and called for their help before her phone was disconnected.
Mary Wanjiru said her sister left for Saudi Arabia last November to seek employment.
Wanjiru, who incidentally returned last week from the same country, told of harassment and abuse of Kenyan women by their employers.
An emotional Wanjiru said all their efforts to have her younger sister return had failed as her employers are keeping her passport.
“One of the conditions in the country is the employer keeps the passport until the amount paid to the agent is recovered,” she said.
Officials from Lifebloom International who had accompanied Wanjiru expressed concern over rising cases of sexual and physical abuse in Saudi Arabia. According to the organisation programme coordinator Kaburi Ngige, it was time the Government addressed the matter.
Cases of Kenyans being abused and even killed in Saudi Arabia have been on the increase.
