A father of three from Kitengela is making an emotional appeal for government intervention after his wife allegedly disappeared from their home and later travelled to Saudi Arabia without informing him, leaving him to single-handedly care for their young children.
Benerd Ongaki says his world came crashing down on June 19, a day that had started like any other. He recalls waking up early, taking his wife to work as he had done on countless occasions before, unaware that it would be the last time he would see her.
Hours later, his repeated phone calls went unanswered. Concern quickly turned into panic as he desperately tried to reach her. After making several inquiries, he says relatives and other sources informed him that his wife had allegedly travelled to Saudi Arabia after being persuaded by individuals believed to be recruitment agents promising lucrative employment opportunities.
The revelation left him devastated.
Now, Ongaki is pleading with his wife to return home, saying their three children are struggling to understand why their mother suddenly disappeared.
“For the sake of our children, I plead with her to come back,” he said emotionally.
Beyond the pain of being separated from his wife, Ongaki says he is deeply worried about her safety. He fears she could face the challenges that have been reported by some Kenyan migrant workers in Gulf countries, including difficult working conditions, exploitation, and limited communication with their families back home.
He further claims that some recruitment agents operating in areas such as Ruiru continue to lure desperate job seekers with promises of well-paying jobs abroad, only for many to allegedly find themselves stranded or facing harsh realities once they arrive.
The father says he only learned about his wife’s departure through relatives, leaving him shocked, confused, and struggling to come to terms with the unexpected turn of events.
Since then, life has become an uphill battle.
Each morning, he wakes up before dawn to prepare his children for school, wash their clothes, cook meals, help them with homework, and then rush to work to earn a living for the family. Every responsibility that was once shared now rests entirely on his shoulders.
The emotional toll, he says, has been even greater than the physical exhaustion. Watching his children repeatedly ask where their mother is has become one of the hardest parts of his daily life. He admits he often has no answers that can comfort them.
The incident has once again drawn attention to growing concerns over alleged rogue recruitment agents who target unemployed Kenyans desperate for opportunities abroad amid rising unemployment and economic hardship. While many Kenyans have successfully secured jobs overseas through licensed recruitment agencies, authorities have repeatedly warned job seekers to verify agencies before accepting employment offers to avoid exploitation and fraud.
As Ongaki continues caring for his children alone, he hopes both the government and relevant agencies will investigate the circumstances surrounding his wife’s departure and help ensure the safety of Kenyans seeking employment abroad. Above all, he longs for the day his family can be reunited.If you’d like, I can also rewrite it in a more dramatic, viral news style suitable for Facebook or online news platforms.
