Kenyan Woman Held In Iraq After Developing Health Issues Asked To Pay Over KSh 260k To Return Home

• Melbourne is currently detained in Iraq after developing severe health issues and being asked to pay over KSh 260,000 to return home
• Human rights activist Jimia Yusuf has brought the situation to light, calling for urgent intervention to secure her release
• Melbourne, a single mother from Korogocho, Nairobi, and mother to a son in junior secondary school, seized an opportunity to work as a househelp in Iraq

A Kenyan woman identified as Melbourne, also known as Alice, is being held in Iraq after facing severe health issues and being asked to pay $2000 (KSh 266,000) to return home.

Why did Melbourne go to Iraq?

Human rights advocate Jimia Yusuf brought the situation to light, urging immediate intervention, or Alice would suffer consequences.

Melbourne, a single mother from Korogocho with a son in junior secondary school, ventured to Iraq to work as a househelp, hoping to improve her family's situation.

"Those who know Melbourne, know how hardworking she is. A single mother fending for her son, she decided to take the opportunity to go to Iraq for a househelp job," wrote Jimia.

The opportunity was allegedly facilitated by Al Adwaa, an agency based at View Park Towers in Nairobi.

However, upon her arrival in Iraq, Melbourne's agreed-upon salary was allegedly renegotiated by a second agent, and she was compelled to accept the new terms, citing her inexperience.

Melbourne chased away from immigration offices

Initially, her employer treated her well, but conditions deteriorated over time.

Melbourne was subjected to working 16 to 18 hours a day, fed on leftover food, and forced to handle additional tasks in her employer's cosmetics business.

According to Jimia, the inhumane working conditions left Melbourne with severe back pains affecting her shoulders, spine, waist, and pelvic area.

Last week, Melbourne escaped her employer's house and sought help at the immigration office, only to be allegedly chased away.

Jimia told TUKO.co.ke that she was subsequently apprehended by patrol police and taken to the agency's offices in Baghdad.

"Things haven't been okay lately and she wants to come back home. She escaped from the house of her employer trying to find her way to the agency," said Jimia.

Agent in Iraq demands KSh 266k in hours

"She was caught by police in the streets of Baghdad who took her to the agency which is DHFAF Al Jannah," she added.

Melbourne is currently detained in a locked room with her phone confiscated.

The Iraqi agency initially demanded USD 3500 (KSh 464,590) for her release, excluding the cost of her air ticket.

In contrast, the Kenyan agent allegedly claimed that USD 2000 (KSh 265,480) would be sufficient if she were to transfer to another household, a nonviable option given her deteriorating health.

Jimia has appealed for help from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Iraq and other relevant organizations to bring Melbourne back home and made urgent calls to the Kenyan authorities to intervene.

Kenyan agency not listed by gov't

In a recent update, she disclosed that the Iraqi agent had lowered the demand to USD 2000 (KSh 265,480) but set a tight deadline for the payment, threatening unspecified consequences if the payment is not made in time.

There are also growing concerns about Al Adwaa's legality, as it is not listed under the National Employment Authority Integrated Management System.

"Is it legally in operation? The agency located in Nairobi View Park Towers is recruiting female labourers in Kenya and taking them to Iraq by working closely with Dhfaf Al Jannah, their partner agency in Iraq," said Jimia.

"Once one cries for help, they're not in a position to assist and say we need to pay...Does Kenya have a Bilateral Labour Agreement with Iraq?" she posed.

The agency collaborates with Dhfaf Al Jannah in Iraq, raising questions about the existence of a Bilateral Labour Agreement between Kenya and Iraq.

Kenyan woman desperate after family squandered money she saved while in Iraq

In a separate story, TUKO.co.ke reported that a Kenyan woman who toiled in Iraq was begging for a job opportunity shortly after returning home.

The anonymous Kenyan posted her heart-breaking story in a Facebook group. According to her, she sent her earnings to her family, expecting they would save the money.

However, she found a stark reality after returning home.

“Guys, I need help. I just arrived from Iraq, and the money I was sending to my family, they used it all up," she shared.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke