Family in Kibera seeks answers as daughter goes missing in Saudi Arabia

A family in Kibera is demanding answers after their daughter went missing in Saudi Arabia.

Their 28-year-old Hellen Ayuma Busiega left home in August 2022 through an agency, but after working with several employers, she ended up weak, voiceless, and abandoned on the streets of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Family members have been searching for her for a month and two weeks without success, and their concerns are heightened by the fact that she lost her voice shortly after a reported hospitalisation.

Upon arrival and after working for some time, Hellen is said to have left her first employer in Jeddah for another. The family says a woman named Joan, known locally as a Dalali or agent, took Hellen from her workplace to another employer, where she worked for three years.

The family claims Hellen was later thrown out by her employer.

A woman calling herself Sweetkiller contacted Hellen’s mother, claiming she had found Hellen sick and abandoned on the street. She said she took her in and later to a hospital, where Hellen received two injections.

Those injections reportedly left Hellen weak, hungry, and unable to speak.

Video shows Hellen attempting to talk, her voice broken, her breath heavy.

“Mtuelezee na hii kutoongea na zile sindano huyu msichana alidungwa kwa hospitali zilikuwa za nini? Ndiyo Sweetkiller akatupigia simu akatuambia anataka kwenda kazi, akachukua msichana akampeleka pale hospitalini Al-Abar Bawakjiil kule Jeddah kumpeleka, hakumfikisha ndani...” said sister to Hellen Christine Asiko.

The so-called good Samaritan is said to have declared she was “done” with the case and walked away. Sweetkiller disputes any wrongdoing, insisting she was only trying to help.

“Ellah (Hellen) tulimeet na yeye saa saba ya usiku, saa nane hapo tukampeleka hospitali, tukarudi kwa nyumba saa tisa. Ilikuwa jana saa moja asubuhi ndio aliacha kuongea, na nilirealize haongei after nimemuamsha kukunywa uji, unasikia. So wacha kuniambia hizo zako, unasikia?” asked Sweetkiller via a phone link.

For Hellen’s family, that was the last known update on her condition and whereabouts.

“Watuletee tu mtoto. Kama serikali inaweza kutusaidia tu, mtoto wetu apatikane akiwa mzima ama akiwa amekufa, tuangalie mwili wa mtoto wetu, tujue alikufa. Sisi wenyewe tuzike, tujue tulishapoteza mtoto,” aunt to Hellen, Violet Kageha said.

It is in this single-roomed house that the family of Hellen Ayuma normally meet to deliberate on how to approach the government to bring back their daughter, who is currently missing in Saudi Arabia.