Saweria Wanja Hongi, a 30-year-old single mother from Kenya, left her home country for Qatar on April 11, 2023, seeking employment as a cleaner. Kenyan Woman Stranded in Qatar With Over KSh 400k Court Fines, Seeks Help to Return Home However, her dreams were shattered upon arrival when she found herself doing housemaid work. How Saweria’s troubles started After working for eight months, Saweria approached her sponsor with concerns about her job and expressed a desire to work elsewhere. She told TUKO.co.ke that the sponsor agreed to allow her to change sponsorship if she could find another job, unaware it would be the beginning of her woes. When Saweria secured a new job and requested the necessary papers to change her sponsorship, her sponsor allegedly changed tune. “He demanded 6,500 riyals (approximately KSh 227,000) to allow me to change sponsorship,” she lamented. Saweria appealed court ruling, inviting more trouble Despite explaining that she did not have the money, the sponsor refused to let her work and eventually filed a runaway case against her. “I was made to appear before the court and was fined 1,000 riyals (KSh 35,000) after which I would be allowed to exit the country,” she explained. Unhappy with the ruling, Saweria appealed against the ruling but was met with an increased fine of 2,000 riyals (KSh 70,000) in the second appearance. She cleared both fines but learned she needed to pay an additional 12,000 riyals (KSh 420,000) before exiting. Stranded Saweria appeals for financial help The single mother of one now finds herself caught in legal proceedings, facing fines and unable to return home. “I thought I would work and repay the debts I took to clear my fines, but with the new charges on my documents I’m unable to secure employment,” Saweria cried. Efforts to seek help from the Kenyan embassy have been futile as she was informed only the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) can handle her case. She is seeking assistance to raise over KSh 400,000, which includes the cost of her flight back home to disentangle herself from the mess and start afresh.
by Hillary Lisimba
