Embu Family Pleads for Answers After Daughter Disappears in Iraq

The family of Jackline Gatwiri, a 28-year-old woman from Kivunguru village, Embu County, urgently seeks information regarding her whereabouts, nine months after she last contacted them from Iraq. 

Gatwiri, who departed Kenya in January 2023 to work as a hairdresser in Iraq, has been incommunicado since September 2024, leaving her family in profound distress. Margaret Gatavi, Gatwiri's mother, says that her daughter had previously worked without incident in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Motivated by the desire to financially support her unemployed mother and young son, Gatwiri sought employment overseas again. 

Upon securing a hairdressing job in Iraq, she regularly sent money home for nearly a year, providing the family with financial stability. The situation took a turn in January 2024 when Gatwiri reported difficulties with her employer following a salary reduction. 

"She explained that after her salary was reduced, she raised complaints. But instead of addressing the issue, her employer became hostile," Gatavi recounts. 

Concerned for her daughter's safety, Gatavi advised her to exercise caution.

The situation worsened in August when Gatwiri communicated increasing concerns about the mistreatment of Kenyan workers in Iraq, particularly those whose contracts had expired. Her calls grew more sombre, marked by pleas for prayers and expressions of fear. Subsequently, an unidentified individual contacted the family, claiming that Gatwiri, along with ten other Kenyans, had been detained. 

The reasons for this detention remain unclear, with no official explanation provided by either Iraqi or Kenyan authorities. Further exacerbating the family's anguish, the stranger reported that Gatwiri had been ill-treated while in custody, suffering from physical weakness and an inability to eat or drink. Despite this, the family were told that she would soon be deported. 

Gatavi was informed that her daughter would arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on 2 September 2024, and she waited at the airport from early morning. However, Gatwiri did not disembark from the plane. Officials told Gatavi that her daughter had "turned violent" and refused to board the flight, which led to her being restrained by Iraqi security forces. 

"They returned her phone and Sh37,000 in cash, but offered no clear answers," Gatavi says.

Since 2 September 2024, the family has received no further communication regarding Gatwiri. This disappearance highlights the considerable risks faced by Kenyan migrant workers in the Middle East, compounded by a lack of transparent accountability mechanisms for their protection. 

"She had experience in the Gulf and knew what to expect. I don't understand what went wrong in Iraq where she had high hopes of earning well," her mother laments. "It has now been nine months since she disappeared. I fear the worst. I appeal to the government to help me find my daughter, dead or alive."

Gatwiri's case draws attention to broader issues concerning the treatment of foreign domestic and service workers in the Middle East. Despite bilateral labour agreements, the enforcement of migrant worker rights is often inadequate. Instances of contract violations, salary disputes, and mistreatment are frequently reported, yet effective recourse mechanisms remain limited.

The family's ordeal is not unique. Many Kenyan families face similar uncertainties when loved ones seek employment in the Middle East. The promise of economic betterment frequently clashes with the harsh realities of exploitation and inadequate legal protections.