Conflicting Reports Surround Death of Kenyan Domestic Worker in Saudi Arabia

A family in Ndeiya, Kiambu County is deeply saddened after their daughter, Margaret Martha Wanjiru, passed away.

Wanjiru left for Saudi Arabia in July 2024 with aspirations to improve her family’s financial situation but passed away in October under circumstances that remain unclear. Initially, Wanjiru’s family received conflicting information regarding her death. They were first informed that she had succumbed to illness at her employer’s residence. Later reports indicated that she died while in police custody, leading to heightened suspicions about the transparency of both her employer and the recruiting agency involved in her employment.

Mercy Nungari, a philanthropist helping Wanjiru’s family, expresses her frustration over the lack of clarity surrounding the situation. She indicates that the mixed narratives from the employer and agency have compounded the family’s grief during this difficult time. The family’s immediate priority is the repatriation of Wanjiru’s remains, but they are facing significant bureaucratic hurdles.

Communication from the Kenyan Embassy in Saudi Arabia has indicated that documentation issues are hampering the process, a development that has deepened the family’s anguish as they await their loved one’s return for a proper burial. Alice Wanyoike, a director at Denha Ventures, the agency that facilitated Wanjiru’s employment, has acknowledged the family’s distress and confirms that efforts are underway to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify the circumstances of Wanjiru’s death and expedite repatriation.

Wanyoike notes that the responsibility for repatriation ultimately lies with the respective Saudi and Kenyan governments. This situation is not an isolated incident. It reflects a disturbing trend, as other Kenyan families have experienced similar challenges in dealing with the losses of loved ones in Saudi Arabia. For example, the family of Purity Nduku Muli from Makueni encountered obstacles when attempting to repatriate her body after her sudden death.

Susan Kalekye Kimanyi, Muli’s daughter, characterizes the agency’s lack of responsiveness as contributing to a sense of abandonment amongst families in distress.