Multiple accounts from Kenyan women claim that embassy officials in Saudi Arabia, including labor attaché Robinson Juma Twanga, exploited their vulnerability by demanding sexual relations or money in return for help, highlighting a broader trend of abuse faced by migrant workers overseas.
Diplomatic Betrayal: Kenyan Women Face Exploitation by Embassy Officials Abroad
Diplomatic Betrayal: Kenyan Women Face Exploitation by Embassy Officials Abroad
An investigative report reveals that Kenyan women fleeing abuse in Saudi Arabia encountered further victimization at the hands of embassy personnel who demanded sexual favors in exchange for assistance.
Kenyan women seeking refuge from abusive conditions abroad have reported harrowing experiences not only at the hands of their employers but also from the very officials meant to protect them. Faith Gathuo’s investigative piece sheds light on the disturbing actions of certain embassy staff, particularly in Saudi Arabia, who allegedly demanded sexual favors from distressed workers as a price for assistance.
Selestine Kemoli, a former maid in Riyadh, fled to the Kenyan Embassy in 2020, battered by her employer. In her desperate bid for help to return to Kenya and her children, she recounted how the embassy's labor attaché, Robinson Juma Twanga, allegedly responded to her pleas with obscenities. Kemoli recalls him saying, “I will sleep with you, just the same way your boss has slept with you,” a chilling demand that underscores the predatory dynamics at play.
Similar testimonies have emerged from women across Kenya, illustrating a pattern of exploitation where embassy officials purportedly pressured vulnerable workers into sexual activities or coerced them into sex work to afford their escape. Lawyers advocating for these victims have confirmed that numerous women have come forward with similar accusations against various embassy personnel, making it evident that the problem extends beyond just one individual.
The report emphasizes an urgent need for systemic reforms to protect migrant workers and hold accountable those who abuse their authority. As they navigate through an already precarious environment, Kenyan women deserve the safety and support originally promised by their homeland representatives—a promise that, for many, has been tragically broken.
