Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei addressed the matter on Wednesday, November 11, expressing sadness over the court's decision.
Sing’Oei described the punishment as cruel and inhuman under Kenyan law, although he acknowledged Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and independence of its judicial system.
He said Kenya would continue engaging its Saudi counterparts on complicated matters involving the enforcement of judicial decisions.
The case involves Esther Wanja Muthoni, a Kenyan woman who was working as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia when she became pregnant following a relationship with an Egyptian national.
The man reportedly left Saudi Arabia before Muthoni gave birth to their son, Abudy, in August 2025.
Her pregnancy came to the attention of her supervisor, who discovered the newborn and arranged for Muthoni and the child to be taken to hospital.
She was subsequently arrested and questioned by Saudi police before being prosecuted and convicted by a court for giving birth outside marriage.
The court handed her a sentence of 100 lashes in October 2026 under Saudi Arabia's application of Islamic Sharia law.
The development has renewed attention on the challenges facing Kenyans working in foreign countries, particularly those employed as domestic workers in the Middle East.
A report by the United States Department of State indicates that more than 500,000 Kenyans are working across the Middle East, with many employed through visa sponsorship arrangements in countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates.
The report also identified returning migrant workers and other vulnerable groups as being at risk of human trafficking due to limited support services.
It further raised concerns over the deaths of Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia, indicating that at least 274 migrant workers, mostly women, died in the country over a five-year period.
At least 55 Kenyan workers reportedly died in 2024, representing twice the number recorded the previous year.
The latest case places renewed focus on the protection of Kenyan migrant workers and the government's diplomatic efforts to address challenges affecting citizens employed abroad.
https://nairobileo.co.ke/news/article/31404/govt-responds-after-saudi-court-sentenced-kenyan-woman-to-100-lashes
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