BY HARRIET MUGO
Faith Njeri Ngugi a Kenyan who was paralysed while working in Saudi Arabia has finally flown back to the country after airlines declined to admit her on board.
Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko announced that she had landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 12 a.m on Thursday, October 13.
Sonko revealed that he offered to foot her travel costs after a concerned Kenyan highlighted Ngugi’s plight.
“Due to her health condition, some airlines refused to fly her, but through my intervention, it was possible. I want to thank the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for their cooperation in helping to bring home Njeri,” he stated.
The mother of one from Kiambu County was received by her family members as the airline’s staff wheeled her toward the international arrivals section of the airport.
Sonko assured her that he would cater for her medical expenses at the Kenyatta National Hospital – KNH. He added that he would help her get back on her feet.
“I will take care of her medical costs locally and ensure she recovers as we plan to secure for her a job,” the former county boss stated
According to the former governor, Njeri left for the Gulf country while in good medical condition and allegedly became paralysed after being tortured by her employers.
She joined the list of Kenyans who have returned home after surviving abuse ranging from bodily to psychological harm from their employees.
The welfare of migrant workers in the gulf countries continues to be a sensitive subject in the country with political leaders workers unions, and non-governmental associations petitioning the state to stop the exportation of Kenyan labor to the area.
However, outgoing Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Ambassador Macharia Kamau argued that some of the troubles faced by the domestic employees were their own undoing.
Macharia, whose remarks rubbed a section of Kenyans the wrong way, argued that most of the laborers who are subjected to beatings do not comply to the rules and customary beliefs of the Arab countries.
His sentiments were echoed by a number of employment agencies which ascertained that the workers are misguided by their compatriots living in Saudi, who encourage them to flaunt the laws and regulations.
