Kenyan Woman’s Plea for Help Days Before Her Death in Saudi Arabia

The family of Catherine Adhiambo, a 43-year-old Kenyan woman, is demanding answers following her death in Saudi Arabia, where she worked as a domestic worker. 

Adhiambo died on April 16, 2025, just seven months after leaving Kenya in September 2024. Adhiambo's death has plunged her family into mourning and ignited a desperate search for clarity. As the primary provider for her four children, who are under the care of her mother, Adhiambo's departure was driven by the hope of improving their financial situation. However, her final communications paint a disturbing picture of distress and fear for her safety.

According to her brother, Byron Obara, and a friend identified as Trizzah, Adhiambo expressed significant anxiety in her last days. She detailed a sudden decision by her employer, Jehan Musa Issa Al-Hosawi, to transfer her to another household. Adhiambo reported feeling threatened, alleging that her employer was angry and demanded her identification documents and burner phone. Furthermore, the employer insisted on the repayment of 10,000 Saudi Riyals (approximately Sh345,500), a debt Adhiambo struggled to meet on her monthly salary of 900 SAR (Sh31,180).

In her last message on April 14, Adhiambo pleaded for help, her voice conveying confusion and frustration. "Things are not good; this woman wants to play some games with me," she said, just two days before her death was reported to her family. The official cause of death was attributed to cardiac arrest, but inconsistencies in the medical report have fueled suspicions of foul play.

The medical report, viewed by the family, contained glaring inaccuracies, describing Adhiambo as a 61-year-old Saudi national and, at times, even referring to her as a male. Jacob Otieno, Adhiambo’s uncle, expresses outrage at these errors, stating, "Someone is lying. The Saudi Arabian government knows what killed Adhiambo but does not want to tell us the truth." 

He asserts that such errors would be unacceptable from any credible medical professional. The family is now struggling to repatriate Adhiambo's body to Kenya for burial. Lacking the financial resources to cover the costs, they have appealed to Nyakio Recruitment Limited, the agency that facilitated her employment, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for assistance. 

A letter dated April 21, 2025, from Nyakio Recruitment Limited to the ministry requests help and notes that efforts to obtain a complete medical report detailing Adhiambo’s cause of death have been unsuccessful. Despite Nyakio Recruitment Limited's claims of collaboration with Saudi partners and Kenyan authorities to repatriate the body, Otieno says that the family has received no formal updates, exacerbating their grief and frustration. 

The Saudi Arabian embassy in Nairobi has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the case, leaving the family and public awaiting an official statement from the kingdom’s authorities. Adhiambo's case highlights the broader issues of exploitation and unsafe working conditions faced by Kenyan domestic workers in the Gulf region. A 2021 parliamentary petition called for reforms to protect the rights of Kenyan citizens employed abroad, underscoring the persistent challenges despite regulatory efforts. 

Driven by poverty and limited opportunities at home, migrant workers often seek better prospects in countries like Saudi Arabia. However, they frequently encounter harsh treatment, wage disparities, and precarious living conditions. The pressure to repay recruitment fees and debts further increases their vulnerability to exploitation.