Dozens of Kenyans are stranded in Cambodia after escaping labour exploitation camps, facing threats of re-trafficking and arrest by local authorities. At least 100 Kenyans are affected, left without travel documents or financial support. The Kenyan Embassy there has acknowledged the issue and is attempting assistance, though progress has been slow.
Several Kenyans travelled to Cambodia in 2025 seeking well-paying jobs, despite warnings from authorities following the rescue of compatriots from similar ordeals in neighbouring Myanmar. Instead, they were enticed with promises of legitimate employment but subjected to forced labour without pay, exploited to generate revenue for operators.
One survivor told Kenyans.co.ke, “We were lured into Cambodia with promises of legitimate job opportunities offering good pay. Instead, they subjected us to forced labour and exploitation. We were used to generate income for the operators without receiving any payment.” Others were sold between companies for as little as Ksh387,000, forced to work for free. Some reported being injected with unknown substances that disoriented them, impairing their ability to comprehend or resist the compelled tasks.
They escaped the camps after enduring severe abuse, but now live in fear due to lacking valid visas or passports, which were confiscated. Scattered across Cambodia, particularly in the capital Phnom Penh, they hide without stable shelter or communication access amid unstable conditions. Another survivor noted, “They are not held in one central location. Kenyans are scattered across different areas in Cambodia. Many of them are in Phnom Penh, the main city.”
The Kenyan Embassy has acknowledged the crisis and is working to repatriate over 300 affected nationals, but victims report limited tangible aid. The issue impacts other African citizens too, with Uganda repatriating 67 of its own on January 21. Cambodian authorities have raided suspected scam centres, yet human trafficking persists as a major concern.