This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
On June 18, 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement denying claims that Kenyan nationals in Saudi Arabia were being mistreated while seeking help at the Kenyan embassy in Riyadh.
The statement clarified that Rahab Njeri Wachira, a Kenyan woman, died in hospital on June 14, 2020, after being admitted by the embassy, contrary to claims that she was neglected by mission staff.
According to the ministry, Rahab was a runaway domestic worker without medical insurance or relevant documentation, which would have enabled her to seek medical assistance in a health facility.
However, the embassy intervened and facilitated her treatment and medical care before she succumbed to her illness.
The ministry urged Kenyans in diaspora to abide by the rules and regulations of respective host countries to avoid unnecessary hardships.
It is standard practice for Kenyans traveling abroad to take medical and other insurance for the duration of their stay to cater for various emergencies, including sickness and death.
