Kenyans stranded in Saudi Arabia return home

By Cyrus Ombati

NAIROBI; KENYA: The last batch of Kenyan women, who were stranded in Saudi Arabia for months where they had gone to seek employment as domestic workers, have arrived back home.

The group of 29 women returned on Monday after being stranded in Riyadh for months. It brought to 72 the number of women who have so far arrived back in Nairobi since September following intervention by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, who visited Riyadh in August.

The women arrived aboard Air Arabia after the Saudi Government paid their tickets.

“This is the third group of the girls to arrive home. It has been difficult for us here,” said an official at the Kenyans embassy in Riyadh.

More than 80 Kenyans had been staying at a transitional detention camp in Riyadh.
The group left Kenya with hopes of securing employment in the Middle East, but later got stranded and called on the Government to rescue them.

Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi said in August a container where the victims were held was set up after the number of distressed Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia skyrocketed.

He said between January and April this year, more than 200 Kenyans had sought help from the embassy after falling out with their employers.

The PS explained that it was impractical to accommodate such high numbers at the official residence of Kenya’s ambassador.