Eight Kenyan men detained in Libya for over six weeks, families appeal for government intervention
via Tuko3 min read
Eight Kenyan men seeking construction jobs in Benghazi, Libya, have been detained for over six weeks, causing distress among their families who are now appealing to the Kenyan government for urgent intervention. The men, identified as John Okutohi, Victor Gathua, Keneddy Wanyehia, Juma Njehia, Kevin Riguini, Collins Koech, James Opiyo, and Paul Njehia, reportedly faced poor working conditions and salary delays after arriving in Libya. A Kenyan national in Libya, Monica Wanjiru, described how a misunderstanding on March 21, 2026, allegedly escalated with security officers, leading to the men's arrest and detention in a facility beneath a military base. Wanjiru claimed that alcohol and weapons were planted on the men, and they were falsely accused of serious offenses. Families of the detained men are blaming recruitment agencies, such as Al-Majihur and Grajoha, for abandoning their loved ones despite collecting thousands of shillings for job placements and travel. Some families reported paying up to KSh 50,000 to agents. The absence of a Kenyan embassy in Libya has complicated efforts to assist the men, and attempts to seek help from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have reportedly made little progress.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Tuko.
Must ReadVeteran Kenyan lawyer and politician Martha Karua was denied entry into Uganda and deported back to Kenya. She had traveled to Kampala as part of a legal team for detained opposition politician Kizza Besigye and Hajj Obeid Lutale, and to support the defense of former Kampala lord mayor Erias Lukwago. Karua stated that Ugandan authorities detained her upon arrival, confiscated her phones, and issued her with a persona non grata notice. Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Chief Justice David Maraga condemned the deportation. Kalonzo described the actions as deeply troubling and a violation of East African Community principles, including free movement and democratic engagement. Maraga argued that the move contradicted the spirit of the East African Community Treaty, emphasizing Karua's right to access her clients. This incident follows a similar deportation of Karua from Tanzania in May, where she was denied entry while attempting to observe court proceedings involving opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
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Must ReadKenyan lawyer Martha Karua has returned to Kenya after being denied entry into Uganda and declared persona non grata. Karua detailed that upon her arrival at Entebbe International Airport, Ugandan immigration officers confiscated her phones, closely monitored her movements, and later escorted her onto a return flight to Nairobi. She had traveled to Kampala to join the legal teams for high-profile court proceedings involving opposition figures Kizza Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale, and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who faces treason allegations. Karua stated that officers informed her of a note against her and, despite her request to wait in the Kenya Airways lounge, she was closely watched. She also mentioned that her phones were returned, but she declined to take them back due to concerns about tampering. The official letter declaring her persona non grata was handed to her while she was already on the flight back to Kenya. Ugandan immigration authorities have not yet publicly explained their decision.