Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei has reacted to a Saudi Arabian court’s decision to sentence a 40-year-old Kenyan woman to 100 lashes for giving birth outside wedlock.
In a public statement released on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, PS Sing’Oei expressed sadness over the judicial outcome, describing the punishment as cruel and inhuman under Kenyan law. However, he emphasized that Kenya respects Saudi Arabia’s national legal sovereignty while seeking diplomatic avenues for resolution.
“Saddened by what would constitute ‘cruel and inhuman’ punishment under our jurisdiction, but respectful of the sovereignty of Saudi legal system,” Sing’Oei stated. “We shall continue to work with our counterparts on these complex arenas of judicial enforcement.”
The Kenyan national, identified as Esther Wanja Muthoni, worked as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia before her arrest. A Saudi criminal court in Riyadh handed down the 100-lash sentence alongside a one-year banishment order in October after finding her guilty of having extramarital relations under Sharia law.
Muthoni became pregnant following a brief relationship with an Egyptian national who subsequently departed Saudi Arabia. She gave birth to her son, Abudy, in August 2025 while residing in staff accommodation.
Hospital Referral and Police Detention
The situation came to light after a workplace supervisor discovered the mother and her newborn baby and transported them to a medical facility.
