The family of Lynette Makena, a Kenyan woman who was detained in Egypt has expressed their joy after reuniting following her release.
Lynette had been behind bars for three weeks following the expiry of her visa rendering her unable to relocate to Kenya.
Speaking to the press from their home, Makena narrated how her child got sick and what led to her arrest.
“When I got my child, it was not an easy journey, like I said, because I had to leave my child at the daycare then go work. I was told that my child was suffering from Hernia,” she said.
She further narrated how her life took a turn for the worse after her child fell ill, forcing her to quit her job to cater for her needs.
“A lot of things on my shoulders, I have a young child, I’m on and off. I could get into work for six months then leave, get called that my child is sick and then leave to go take care of my her. So, when my visa expired, I was not able to renew my it,” she said.
Detention in Egypt
Makena recounted how the police arrested her and several others following a crackdown on illegal immigrants in Egypt.
She recalled opening the door only to have police officers asking for their passports.
“On opening the door, I found out it was the police. Some were in uniform, and others were not. They entered and asked us where our passports are. We said that we didn’t have them the first time. They asked a second time, I gave them mine, however the rest maintained that they didn’t have theirs,” she said.
Lynette shared her harrowing experience of being detained in Egypt, describing the challenging conditions she endured during her time in custody.
“So, you’ll find that we’re squeezed in a cell, blacks are on a different side from Egyptians, so they don’t mix. When you find us sleeping, we’re squeezed such that if you want to turn, you tap the person sleeping next to you, to alert them, so you can both turn,” she said
Maken narrated the hardships she faced, including the lack of basic necessities. She however, stated that she was able to survive the ordeal because of the kindness from fellow detainees who could give her food leftovers.
“I stayed there for three weeks, I didn’t have food or anything. Those that were helping me were Chinese nationals in there who would give me leftovers and I would eat because I was hungry,” she explained.
Also Read: Family Seeks Help to Bring Back Daughter Detained in Egypt
Lynette’s family and Friends React
Lynette’s mother, Julia Mwitari thanked NTV for the part they played in securing her daughters release saying, “I am grateful to NTV also, I am so grateful, you have done a good job till my daughter returned home.”
Timothy Kithinji, a well-wisher urged the government, and the ministry of foreign affairs to put in place guidelines and measures to protect Kenyans working abroad to avoid similar occurrences.
“If at all they are our kids who have gone outside there, outside this country, let there be a proper follow-up, of whatever, where they’re working, what they’re doing, who has employed them, and if there’s a dispute, let there be a dispute resolution.
Also Read: Kenyan Lady Detained by DRC Soldiers Freed
Lynette Arrested
Lynette Makena left Kenya in 2018 in search of greener pastures in Egypt following an invite by a relative who also lived and worked there. Upon her arrival, she was employed as a house help.
However, Makena was arrested after her visa expired in February 2024. The Egyptian authorities detained her on May 8, alongside two other Kenyans following a crackdown on illegal immigrants.
She noted that she was not able to renew it on time after exhausting her savings when her daughter fell ill.
Her plight came to the attention of the public on May 29th after her family reached out to ask for assistance to raise Kshs 200,000 needed to release her from the detention centre in Egypt.
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