Kenyan student in Cuba pleads for help

A 29-year-old student is stranded in Cuba for lack of money for air ticket to return home.

Zena Ana Mohamed, went to Cuba after securing a scholarship to study psychology at Martzas University, but has been living as a refugee since she completed her studies last year.

Zena narrated her plight to The Standard on Sunday through a telephone interview from the university.

Anania Mwaboza, former Kisauni MP and and current advisor on constitutional affairs in the Office of the Deputy President, said he helped Zena secure the scholarship.“It’s true I helped her get the scholarship and since I’m not longer an MP, she should seek help from the local MP,” Mr Mwaboza said when contacted.

He said the scholarship package was worth Sh7 million, which covered her six year course and he was unable to bring her back. “There is local MP who should help her as she comes from Kisauni. I helped her travel to Cuba and do not have cash to bring her back to Kenya,” he said.

Zena said part of the scholarship’s conditions was that she would not travel back to Kenya until she completed her course.

“In May, Mwaboza’s former personal assistant called to inquire about me. On July 31, 2013, he had called to assure me they will send me an air ticket in a weeks’ time,” she said.

She said that her efforts to get help from Kenya Embassy in Canada have been futile. “The embassy in Canada has not responded despite my several calls,” said Zena.

“I have been suffering from depression and stress since last month. I had been falling sick and recently, I was diagnosed with a condition that doctors fear could lead to anaemia,” she said. Yesterday, Mwaboza’s personal assistant Kamwenga Kamanza said Zena has been calling him asking for assistance to travel back to Kenya.

“The student was assisted by the then Kisauni MP to further her studies in Cuba. But given that Mwaboza is no longer the area MP, we are not able to assist her return home,” said Kamanza. Kamanza asked people of goodwill to help Zena travel back home because her family has not been able to raise the money. “The parents are very poor they cannot raise the money. I appeal for well-wishers and the Government to help her,” he said. Kenya does not have an embassy in Cuba which is covered by the High Commission in Canada.