A Kenyan domestic worker in Saudi Arabia is facing 100 lashes after a Riyadh criminal court reportedly convicted her of having a child outside marriage, raising questions about her welfare and the assistance she has received from Kenyan diplomatic officials.
The woman, identified only as Muthoni, was sentenced in October after being detained by Saudi authorities, according to an investigative report by The New York Times.
How the Kenyan Woman Became Stranded in Riyadh
Muthoni was working as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia when she became pregnant following a relationship with an Egyptian national.
She gave birth to a baby boy in August 2025 while staying in staff accommodation. However, after being admitted to a medical facility, she was questioned by police about her marital status and subsequently detained.
Although she was later released on bail, her situation reportedly worsened after her Egyptian partner left Saudi Arabia.
She was evicted from her accommodation and left without a stable place to stay. According to the report, Muthoni sought shelter at a petrol station in Riyadh as she tried to obtain emergency travel documents for herself and her child.
Why Saudi Arabia Sentenced the Kenyan Worker to 100 Lashes
A three-judge panel at a Riyadh criminal court reportedly convicted Muthoni under Saudi Arabia’s laws governing sexual relations outside marriage.
The offence, known in Islamic jurisprudence as zina, concerns sexual relations outside a legally recognised marriage.
Under the legal interpretation described in the investigative report, an out-of-wedlock pregnancy can be used as evidence in such cases.
Her reported sentence of 100 lashes has raised concerns about the treatment of foreign domestic workers facing criminal proceedings in the Kingdom.
Kenyan Embassy’s Response to Muthoni’s Case Under Scrutiny
The investigative report also raised questions about the assistance Muthoni received from Kenyan diplomatic representatives in Riyadh.
According to The New York Times, Kenyan consular officials had not provided her with legal assistance or emergency intervention.
Her official travel documents have also reportedly expired, leaving her facing additional difficulties as she attempts to return home with her infant son.
As of the report’s publication, neither the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh nor the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs had issued an official statement explaining her situation or outlining plans for her possible deportation.
Kenyan Woman’s Case Raises Questions About Consular Protection Abroad
Muthoni’s reported predicament brings attention to the challenges Kenyan migrant workers can face when dealing with foreign legal systems, particularly when they lack access to legal representation, accommodation and valid travel documents.
Her case also leaves unanswered questions about the Kenyan government’s efforts to establish her current welfare, secure legal assistance and facilitate her possible return to Kenya.
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