Eight Kenyans Detained in Libya After Wage Dispute
Eight Kenyan nationals remain detained in Benghazi, Libya, following their arrest on 21 March after a dispute with their employer over unpaid wages.
The case has been raised by Monica Wanjiru, also known as Princess Monica (Moniwise Shee), who has called on the Kenyan government to intervene. She states that the men were arrested after tensions escalated at their workplace when they demanded salaries that had allegedly been withheld for several months.
Those detained have been identified as John Oktoi from Kakamega, Victor Gathua Ndungu from Nakuru, Kenneth Wanjihia Wamai from Nyeri, Juma Jira Mangale from Mombasa, Kevin Reguini from Nyeri, Collins Koech from Kapsabet, James Opiyo Wafula from Mombasa, and Paul Njihia Kamau from Nakuru.
According to accounts shared by Monica, a communication breakdown between the workers and local security personnel contributed to the incident, with language differences between English and Arabic worsening the situation. Police were called, leading to the arrests.
The men are currently being held at Kuwezia Prison in Benghazi, with no clear resolution to their case. Families in Kenya report that efforts to seek assistance from the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs have not produced results.
The absence of a Kenyan diplomatic mission in Libya has complicated the situation. Without direct consular representation, the detainees have limited access to support in a country where detention conditions are reported to be difficult, particularly for migrant workers.
Monica maintains that the case does not involve criminal activity, saying that the men were labourers seeking payment for their work. She has urged the government, under President William Ruto, to engage diplomatic channels through Kenyan embassies in neighbouring countries to secure their release.
