Nairobi, Kenya – The tragic story of Cynthia Kerubo, a Kenyan domestic worker executed in Saudi Arabia, has sparked outrage and renewed calls for justice from her grieving family. Hailing from Kisii County, Cynthia traveled to the Gulf state seeking a better life, only to face a betrayal that led to her untimely death.
A Promising Journey Turns Into a Nightmare
Cynthia left Kenya under a domestic worker visa, hoping to earn money to support her family. While in Saudi Arabia, her husband Vincent, who was working in Dubai, allegedly asked her to photograph her employer’s bank visa card and send it to him. Trusting her husband, Cynthia complied—unaware of the severe consequences that would follow.
Months later, her former employer discovered that his bank account had been drained. Saudi authorities traced the unauthorized transactions to Dubai and linked them to Cynthia, who had previously worked in the employer’s home. Investigators found the photograph on her phone, leading to allegations that she had colluded in financial fraud.
Harsh Penalties for Financial Crimes
In Saudi Arabia, fraud—especially involving foreign domestic workers—is punishable by death. Cynthia was accused, tried, and ultimately executed by hanging, shocking her family and the Kenyan diaspora community in the Gulf.
A Heartbreaking Farewell
In one of her final audio messages to her family, Cynthia tearfully blamed her husband Vincent for her predicament but did not reveal full details. Her silence left lingering questions and immense pain for her loved ones.
Controversy Over Burial
Upon her body’s return to Kenya, Vincent’s family insisted on burying her at her marital home in line with customary marriage rites. Despite opposition from her birth family, the burial proceeded. Cynthia’s family is now fighting to exhume her remains for reburial in her ancestral home in Kisii and seeking legal accountability for those responsible, particularly her husband.
Cynthia Kerubo’s story highlights the risks faced by Kenyan domestic workers abroad and the urgent need for protective measures. Read more human rights and legal news at metros.co.ke/.
