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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