Diaspora PS Njogu vouches for Saudi centre for distressed domestic workers seeking repatriation

Distressed domestic workers in Saudi Arabia have been urged to make their way to the Sakan Center for shelter.

Taking to social media on Saturday, Diaspora Affairs PS Roseline Njogu shared her recent experience after visiting the Gulf nation, adding it has an agency that caters for stranded Kenyans.

She revealed that about 288 Kenyans were being offered free shelter and assisted to get back to their country after acquiring the necessary travel documentation.

“So we went to Sakan holding centre in Riyadh. Sakan shelters take in any female domestic worker in distress. In this particular shelter, they had 257 Kenyans (another 31 are in the other 12 branches across KSA). I was surprised by what I found,” Njogu wrote on Twitter.

“Sakan is a holding centre/shelter for female domestic workers, usually in distress. Over the last two years, they have taken in 8,000 Kenyan women and helped them to transition back home. They do this at zero cost to the worker, and support our embassy @KenyaRiyadh.”

She added: “They offer legal aid to domestic workers to resolve pending employment disputes and other legal concerns and assist them in procuring exit visas (you can’t leave KSA without this).”

The PS went on to state the centre had recreational facilities, including a swimming pool.

“The women we met confirmed that they are given food, shelter, medical care, psychological/psychiatric care, and eventually plane tickets to go home. There’s recreation- I watched them taking a swim! They keep their phones and can leave if they want,” she stated.

“I was surprised by what I did NOT see. I’d been told that I’d see sick, malnourished women. My team & I provided consular services. @WaziriBore@GeoffreyKaitukoand members of @Senate_KEwere there too. In fact, 75 of the 288 women in Sakan already have their tickets for NBI.”

According to the PS, Kenyans who decry torture and mistreatment in the Arab country are often those who have entered Saudi through the wrong channels.

“DWs who are out of status or who abandon their contract often fall prey to dalalas who traffic them to work illegally in other households. Then they are taken advantage of & mistreated as we have seen on social media. It’s hard to protect you when you enter the black market!” She explained.

She now appeals to all Kenyans in the foreign land seeking to return to the country to visit any Sakan centre near them.

“Calling all activists, Kenyans of goodwill and keyboard warriors: kindly direct domestic workers in distress in KSA to go to a Sakan centre near them. Instead of flooding my DM, this is a fast, safe and FREE service. Help you fellow Kenyans,” she said.

The remarks by the PS come at a time when Saudi Arabia is on the world's radar for continuous abuse of human rights and mistreatment of foreigners.