Nyeri family in indefinite mourning as daughter's body stuck in Saudi Arabia

A family in Nyeri has been mourning for more than a month now as they do not have money to bring back the body of their daughter who died in Saudi Arabia.

The family of Charles Wachira has been holding daily prayer meetings seeking divine intervention since they received news of the death of their daughter Pauline Murugi, 25.

The family said on Friday they do not know when the mourning period will end as they do not have the finances to fly her body back home. 

Murugi died in unclear circumstances in a hostel in Riyadh after being in Saudi Arabia for only three months.

Her mother Margaret Mwihaki said Murugi had told them she was leaving for Dubai to look for greener pastures but they later learnt she was in Saudi Arabia.

Murugi left the country on May 20, 2022, after staying with her family in their Kiahuria village home in Watuka sublocation, Kieni West from March 18 to May 19, 2022.

“We didn’t know her final destination would be Saudi Arabia. We were shocked to learn she was there,” she said.

Her sister Caroline Wachira, 23, said the last time she spoke to Murugi was on July 28, 2022, after which her messages went unanswered.

“On August 7, I was informed by one of the ladies with whom she had travelled that she was unwell and needed our prayers,” she said.

Caroline said the following day she received a message from a woman only identified as Lynette that her sister had died.

Lynette introduced herself as Murugi's friend.

She however did not disclose more information on the nature of her sickness or the circumstances that led to her death.

When Caroline requested to speak to her personally, she was informed she could neither speak nor eat.

Villagers and family members are appealing to the government to help ferry the body back to the country and investigate the cause of Murugi’s death.

Murugi’s former teacher at Kiahuria Primary School, Wanderi Njoroge, now retired, who brought Haki Africa on board, said the family and villagers were unable to bring the body for burial due to lack of funds.

They are peasant farmers who are unable to raise the money required.

He eulogised Murugi as a cheerful, disciplined, visionary, responsible and hard-working pupil and they had a lot of hope in her.

“We would like justice for Murugi to prevail and the government to help us to bring her body home for a decent burial. Saudi Arabia and Kieni constituency are two worlds apart,” Njoroge said.

Villagers formed a committee to raise money, but only raised less than Sh10,000 to cater to the father’s bus fare to Nairobi.

When we visited the home on Friday, the father had travelled to Nairobi to try and seek assistance from the Foreign Affairs offices.

Haki Africa rapid response officer Fredrick Odhiambo blamed the tribulations undergone by the girls on agents who take them to work as domestic workers in the Middle East.

He said they end up being overworked, mistreated, tortured or starved to death in what he termed "modern day slave trade".

Odhiambo, who had travelled from Nairobi to meet the family, wondered why local elected leaders and administrators have not taken up the matter.

The family has been going through a lot of pain, yet both the agents concerned in Kenya and in Saudi Arabia have been unable to relay any information to them, he said.

“The family has been spending the little money they have to look for the Kenyan agent who took their girl to the Middle East,” Odhiambo said.

He said the government must crack the whip on criminal elements masquerading as agents but are engaging in slave trade.

“Murugi is dead yet the government of Kenya and the Kenyan Embassy in Saudi Arabia have not made any attempt to find out where she is, what happened to her and when the body will be brought back,” he said.

Odhiambo demanded that the Kenyan government bring home all Kenyan citizens stuck in the Middle East, adding that Haki Africa will push the government to bring Murugi’s body home.

He urged parents to ensure their children follow due process and do background checks before releasing them to travel or engage with the agents.

The new government, he said, should also work with all actors and stakeholders to create jobs locally.

“We must find jobs for our girls. We must find opportunities for our citizens so that they do not fall prey to criminals masquerading as agents for jobs,” he said.

Odhiambo pledged to reach out to investigative agencies so they can identify the agents concerned and hold them to account.

Criminal elements taking the girls to foreign countries should be charged in court and their licences withdrawn, he added.

Earlier this month Diana Chepkemoi, a domestic worker who was stranded in Saudi Arabia, returned home, saying her friends are suffering in the Middle East.

“People are tortured psychologically, physically and it is not fair," she said on her arrival.

"It is a shame being told there is nothing you can do about it."

Chepkemoi caught Kenyans' attention after photos of her looking emaciated surfaced on social media.

Her family had appealed for assistance from the government to bring her back home. 

When she landed at JKIA, Chepkemoi said she left Kenya for Saudi Arabia in hopes of improving her life.

“People are suffering in Saudi Arabia, my friends are suffering there. I'm glad I got support when I came out,” she said, while holding back her tears.

She pleaded with the government to help Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia.