My name is Sharleen Muhonja, aim 17years old. Currently located in Garissa staying with a friend. I consider her friend because she has been there for me ever since I escaped death in a Somalia homestead.

I was the second born in a family of four, unfortunately, my parent divorced and my mother got married to another man. She left us with our father and never bothered to come back. Our dad took care of us since I was five years old until I was ten years when he died of HIV/Aids. My elder sister and I had no one to turn to. She decided to look for a job and through a friend she was able to find out that their ware job advertisements from Garissa County. It was in 2016 May when my sister and I traveled to Garissa so that she could work and support me in my studies. She was nineteen years old, already done with her secondary education and I was 11 years undertaking my primary education.

After 12 hours of travelling, we arrived in Garissa and we were received by the agent. Just immediately she saw me she complained and quarreled my sister because she took me along with her. she took my sister to a home where she was to stay and work. luckily the Somali took me in with my sister and she could work as I helped her out. After working for a month, the owner of the house requested my sister to hand me over to his brother’s house so that I could be cleaning the house and washing utensils for them. She had no choice so she agreed and I was taken away from her.

I worked in the Somali house as a young girl with little food to eat and I could not even see my sister to talk to. I requested for a salary so that I could buy a phone to communicate with my sister but they said my salary would be given to my sister because I was too young to handle the huge amount of money [sh10,000]. Sometimes I could be told my sister gave them a phone call to say hi to me but I could never tell whether it was true or false.

I persevered in that Somali homestead for four years, without seeing my sister, without seeing my sister or talking to her. the only thing they could buy me is their clothing so I could dress and look like them. Moreso, right now I can hear and speak their language.

It was in 2021 when I fell sick and by God’s grace they took me to the hospital for the first time, while at the hospital my boss was called to take my laboratory result when I ran and hide in the hospital toilet. I stayed in the toiled for quite some times, patients could come knock and go. I spoke to one of the nurses who helped me with some cash but I wasn’t sure of where I could go, since I don’t even recall my home village so well. Just while at the hospital I approached another lady who was coming out of the hospital, I told her my problems and she took me in.

As I narrate this story for Annette’s daughter to write, I have never seen my sister or hear from her, I don’t know whether she is alive or dead, I don’t even recall the house she was working in .Aim still staying with the lady who took me in. she too works for the Somalis, but going and coming back to her rental room and I help her out so as to get food and clothing.

Thanks, to Annette Nawls because I now have hopes of going back to school, finding my mother and my sister.