The woman, identified as Muthoni, was sentenced in October by a three-judge panel at a criminal court in Riyadh, according to an investigative report published by The New York Times.
The case dates back to August 2025, when Muthoni gave birth to a baby boy while staying in staff accommodation. She was later taken to hospital, where police reportedly detained her for questioning over the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy.
According to the account cited in the report, Muthoni became pregnant following a relationship with an Egyptian man who was also in Saudi Arabia. However, the man reportedly left the country, leaving her to take care of their child without adequate support.
Her situation reportedly worsened after she and her son were forced out of their accommodation. She later found herself living at a petrol station in Riyadh as she struggled to secure assistance and make arrangements to return to Kenya.
Authorities subsequently charged her with giving birth outside marriage, an offence treated under Saudi Arabia's legal framework as zina, which refers to sexual relations outside a legally recognised marriage.
The court eventually handed her a sentence of 100 lashes. However, it remains unclear when the punishment will be carried out. Her travel documents have also reportedly expired, complicating efforts to return home.
The case has raised questions about the protection available to Kenyans working abroad, particularly domestic workers who encounter legal or personal difficulties while employed in foreign countries.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei confirmed that the Kenyan government was aware of the matter and had begun diplomatic engagements with Saudi Arabian authorities.
Sing'Oei expressed sadness over the punishment, describing it as cruel and inhumane under Kenya's standards, while acknowledging Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and its authority to administer justice under its legal system.
“Saddened by what would constitute ‘cruel and inhuman’ punishment under our jurisdiction, but respectful of the sovereignty of the Saudi legal system. We shall continue to work with our counterparts in these complex arenas of judicial enforcement,” he stated.
The Kenyan government is expected to continue engaging its Saudi counterparts as efforts to address Muthoni's situation unfold. However, her fate and the possibility of returning to Kenya remain uncertain.
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