The employer of a Kenyan woman who died under mysterious circumstances in Saudi Arabia in June this year has paid the deceased’s family Sh104,000 (SAR3,600).
The amount was outstanding salary arrears owed to Alice Owuor Tindo by the Saudi Arabian widow before her death on June 14th, according to Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Rachelle Omamo.
Omamo, who spoke when she appeared before parliament’s Defense and Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, said her ministry helped Alice’s family to recover the money.
The cause of Alice’s death remains unclear. Until her death, she worked as a domestic worker for the elderly widow in Najran City.
“The delay in repatriation of the body is occasioned by the inability of the employer, who is a widow to pay for the repatriation costs (mortuary and air ticket),” said Omamo.
“The employer was reported to the police and the case filed at the labor court by the Saudi recruitment agent to secure the dues and repatriation costs for Tindo.”
Omamo said officials from the Kenyan embassy in Riyadh are working with local authorities to ensure her body is airlifted to Kenya for burial.
Alice, who hailed from Elburgon, Nakuru County, had traveled to Saudi Arabia for work in January this year.
In an interview with NTV last month, the deceased’s mother Mary Wambui said her daughter left the country without disclosing her destination but assured them that her agent would often update them on her progress. She further noted that Alice, 30, called to inform the family that she secured a job upon landing at the airport.
Mary said they later learned Alice was being mistreated by her employer but attempts to reach her through her phone were unsuccessful. It did not take long before the family received a call informing them that their daughter had passed away.
“We received a call on Monday at 8:30 PM and we were told that she slept and never woke up. We asked whether she was sick but the caller said she was not unwell,” Mary told NTV, adding that the family does not believe Alice died in her sleep.
