- Judy Momanyi thought she was flying to Qatar for work, but her journey allegedly ended in Iran, tending livestock
- Having spent all her savings from an earlier stint in Saudi Arabia to secure the job, she now faces a reality she never planned for
- Her story has touched many online, with strangers reminding her that setbacks can still lead to new beginnings
Two months ago, Judy Momanyi left Kenya clutching a promise that many migrant workers know well: a lucrative job in Qatar and the chance to transform her family’s fortunes.
Source: TikTok
Instead, she says, she now finds herself in Iran, tending goats and sheep as a shepherd in a rural setting far removed from the life she had imagined.
How Judy Momanyi ended up in Iran
In a TikTok post, Judy explained that she boarded a flight and arrived in Qatar as planned. But on arrival, she was allegedly met by someone holding a ticket and a visa to Oman.
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What followed, she says, was a chain of events that ultimately left her working in Iran herding livestock, a dramatic twist she had neither expected nor agreed to.
The change was painful, not least because she had financed the opportunity with all the savings she had painstakingly earned during her previous job in Saudi Arabia.
Judy’s experience shines a light on the risks faced by migrant workers who invest their savings and hopes in overseas employment, often relying entirely on recruitment agents.
While some journeys lead to success, others take unexpected and troubling turns.
Fresh start turned into lesson
Many argued that the video she shared was meant for content, until she shared more videos of herself in the field herding animals, and another holding Iranian rials.
For Judy, it was meant to be a fresh start; instead, it has become a lesson in resilience. Her story has sparked conversation online, with many Kenyans offering sympathy, and surprisingly, reassurance.
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Some commenters suggested that shepherding might not be the worst fate. Compared with domestic work, which can be demanding and, in some cases, exploitative, they argued that working with animals offers peace.
Social media reactions
Kafy:
“As long as salary inaingia, lisha mbuzi ukiskiza music, especially gospel 🥰🥰🥰 You’ll be surprised at how peaceful it will be.”
Black berry 🇳🇬🇬🇧🇬🇧
“Sorry, dear, keep on moving. Mimi nilioshwa na agent nikatoa all my savings yenye nilitoka nayo Lebanon eti napelekwa Qatar kama waitress airport. Weee, nilijipata kadama. I didn’t give up, Mungu aliingilia kati niko UK saa hii, one year down the line.”
Wambo Charles
“This reminds me nilikuwa nataka kwenda Dubai, and the agent was like aaah kuko na kazi mingi sana. After all the process kuangalia destination inasema Oman. Tulikuwa wanne, sikuenda but I guess hao wangine walienda.”
For now, Judy’s life is measured not by office hours or city lights, but by the rhythm of hooves and the open fields.
Whether her path will lead her back to the Gulf or somewhere entirely new remains uncertain. But in the chorus of online voices rallying around her, one message rings clear: setbacks do not have to be the end of the story.
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Source: TikTok
Man arrested for luring Kenyans into Russian army
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives based in Moyale Police Station recently arrested a 33-year-old man accused of luring Kenyans to dangerous overseas jobs.
The arrest of Festus Arasa Omwamba on Wednesday, February 25, happened amid ongoing investigations into the recruitment of more than 1,000 Kenyans in the Russian military.
Several Kenyans who travelled to Russia with the hope of undertaking jobs like delivery ended up dying on the battlefield.
Source: NgGossips
