The story of Elizabeth Kalumu David is a heartbreaking example of how vulnerable Kenyans are being exploited and sold into modern-day slavery, with the approval of their own government.
Elizabeth, a young woman from Kitui County, was recruited by Leking Recruitment Agency Limited on 8th May 2024, with promises of a better life and lucrative employment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Instead, she found herself trapped in a nightmare. Her employer, Read Mutlaq Omar Olotaibi, subjected her to physical abuse, starvation, and complete isolation.
For over nine months, Elizabeth was unpaid, her phone was confiscated, and all communication with her family was cut off in December 2024.
Her employer even threatened her life, leaving her family desperate for answers and action from the Kenyan government.
Cyprian Nyakundi, a well-known activist and blogger, has been vocal about the injustices faced by victims like Elizabeth. He has repeatedly called out agencies like Leking for their inhumane practices, yet little has been done to hold them accountable.
Leking Recruitment Agency Limited is not just a rogue operation, it is a government-approved entity that continues to profit from the suffering of Kenyans.
Despite numerous reports of fraud, abuse, and human trafficking, the agency was officially cleared by the National Employment Authority (NEA) in January 2024 to recruit workers for foreign employment.
This raises serious questions about the government’s role in enabling these atrocities. How can an agency with such a well-documented history of exploitation continue to operate with impunity?
The truth is, Leking Agency thrives on deception. Desperate job seekers are lured with promises of high-paying jobs abroad, only to be charged exorbitant fees for placement. Those who fail to secure jobs are denied refunds, while those who do find work often end up in conditions akin to slavery.
Women like Elizabeth are stripped of their passports, subjected to physical and emotional abuse, and cut off from their families. Some have returned home in body bags, while others carry the scars of rape, torture, and enslavement.
Yet, the government continues to turn a blind eye, allowing these agencies to operate freely. Elizabeth’s family is now pleading with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the NEA, and the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh to intervene and bring her home.
But their cries for help are just one voice among many. Countless Kenyans have fallen victim to this exploitative system, and the government’s inaction speaks volumes.
A simple online search reveals hundreds of complaints against agencies like Leking, yet no meaningful action has been taken. The government’s complicity in this crisis is undeniable.
By licensing and endorsing these agencies, they are effectively sanctioning the sale of Kenyans into slavery.
The case of Elizabeth Kalumu David is a stark reminder of the urgent need for accountability and reform. The Kenyan government must take immediate steps to shut down agencies like Leking, investigate their practices, and provide justice for the victims.
Until then, the cycle of exploitation and suffering will continue, and more families will be left to mourn the loss of their loved ones.
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