Kenyan Man Reportedly Arrested in Saudi Arabia After Highlighting Abuse of Workers

A Kenyan man living in Saudi Arabia has reportedly been arrested only days after speaking out about the tough conditions many Kenyan workers face in the country. 

The news was shared by Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa, who visited the man during his recent trip to Riyadh.

The man, known as Kiongozi, was among several Kenyans the senator met while investigating reports of Kenyans who are stranded and suffering in Saudi Arabia. 

According to Thang’wa, many of these people—especially mothers—have been abandoned by systems meant to protect them and are living in very harsh conditions.

Senator Thang’wa said that before his arrest, Kiongozi had received threatening messages from an individual believed to be a Saudi national with business connections in Kenya. 

The threats accused him of embarrassing Saudi Arabia by speaking about the struggles faced by Kenyan workers. 

One message even warned him of “surgery” as a punishment for exposing what the workers go through.

The senator shared screenshots of the threats online, saying they clearly show the risks many Kenyans face when they try to speak out. 

He asked Kenyans to pay attention to the situation and push for the safety of their brothers and sisters working in the Middle East.

A week earlier, Thang’wa posted videos and photos of Kenyan mothers stranded in Riyadh. Some of them are homeless, living on the streets with their children. 

Their biggest challenge is the slow processing of documents at the Kenyan Embassy. 

Many mothers cannot leave Saudi Arabia with their children without DNA tests, which are meant to confirm parentage. Unfortunately, these tests have been delayed for years.

One sad case involved a woman from Vihiga County who has been waiting for her child’s DNA results for three years. 

The tests were taken by officials who travelled from Kenya, but no results have ever been released. Without these documents, she cannot travel back home.

International media have also reported similar problems. A recent New York Times investigation revealed that unwed Kenyan mothers in Saudi Arabia often face detention and discrimination. 

Some pregnancies result from abuse by employers, yet the mothers still cannot leave or obtain documents for their children.

Senator Thang’wa said the arrest of Kiongozi is proof of how serious the situation is. He urged the Kenyan government and the public to stand together to protect Kenyan workers abroad.