Chris and Kezia: Siblings Reunited

Early in 2022, Chris and Kezia*, ages 12 and 16, had to say goodbye to their elder sister Grace*, as she was forced to flee their home due to persecution. Soon after, their mother was abducted. After desperately searching for her and visiting multiple police stations, they gave up hope of ever finding her. The two siblings remained in their home, but were later evicted when they were unable to pay rent. Chris and Kezia left their home with a few belongings, not knowing what would become of their future.

After spending a week living in the streets, Chris and Kezia met a truck driver who listened to their story and promised to bring them to Kenya where his family would help them.

Unfortunately, many refugee children who have lost their traditional support systems (family, neighbors, teachers) are especially susceptible to abuse, violence, exploitation, and continued trauma. Horrifically, Chris and Kezia were trafficked by the truck driver who had promised to help them, and they endured unspeakable violence and abuse.

Eventually, Chris and Kezia managed to escape their abusers, walking for many days and ending up in Nairobi, where they lived on the streets. Incredibly, in Nairobi, a woman who was a former classmate of their sister, Grace, recognized Chris and Kezia from a distance and called out to them. After a brief interaction, the two discovered that Grace was alive and living in Europe. The siblings were overjoyed at this news and, for the first time, felt a glimmer of hope.

With Grace’s assistance, the woman rented a single-room house for the children, bought some household goods and food, and helped them settle in their new home. At the same time, Grace started exploring ways to reunite with her siblings.

One of Grace’s friends recommended RefugePoint. At the end of 2022, Grace contacted RefugePoint and was referred to the Child Protection Manager in Nairobi for assistance.

“Grace called us and told us some people were coming to assist us,” Chris shared. “That’s how we met RefugePoint. Lonah, Kamakil, Rebecca, and Edmond came to visit us the first time,” Chris recalled. “They asked us if we would be comfortable being separated because I was pregnant at the time and needed medical attention,” Kezia shared.

At the end of March 2023, Chris was moved to a children’s safe house, and Kezia to a shelter for separated and unaccompanied young girls and women. While RefugePoint worked with partners to facilitate the family reunification process, Chris and Kezia regularly met at the RefugePoint offices to bond with Grace, who would join them virtually via Zoom.

Unfortunately, Kezia suffered a miscarriage and was referred for counseling at RefugePoint. While this was happening, RefugePoint coordinated with other agencies and the receiving country to submit the children’s case for urgent family reunification that would allow Chris and Kezia to join their sister Grace in Europe. By the end of September 2023, the case had been finalized.

Chris and Kezia departed Nairobi in October 2023 and were finally reunited with Grace in Europe. Today, Chris and Kezia are enrolled in school and working hard towards achieving their dreams.

When asked what hopes they had for the future, Kezia responded, “I want first to finish my education and then get work.” Kezia hopes to become a prosecutor so she can help vulnerable people. Chris hopes to be an engineer and create a digital system to help him find his mom and dad.

*Names changed for protection