Esther Wanja Muthoni, 40, has been stranded in Riyadh for more than a year after a court sentenced her to flogging and one year of banishment. She fears the punishment and is desperate to reunite with her five children in Kenya.

A 40-year-old Kenyan mother of five, Esther Wanja Muthoni, is facing 100 lashes and one year of banishment in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of having sex outside marriage.

Muthoni, who travelled to Riyadh to work as a domestic worker, has remained stranded in the country for more than a year following the birth of her son outside marriage. She is now struggling to secure the necessary documents to return to Kenya and reunite with her other children.

Her ordeal began after she became pregnant during a brief relationship with an Egyptian man, who reportedly left Saudi Arabia before the matter came to the attention of authorities.

In August 2025, Muthoni gave birth to a baby boy in staff accommodation where she was living. However, the situation attracted police attention, eventually leading to her arrest and prosecution.

In October 2026, a three-judge panel in Riyadh found her guilty of having sex outside marriage and handed down a sentence of 100 lashes and one year of banishment.

The Egyptian man identified as the child's father was not charged in connection with the case.

Muthoni reportedly went through the legal proceedings without a lawyer and relied solely on a translator to understand the process.

She also did not appeal the judgment, explaining that accepting the sentence appeared to be the quickest way to resolve her situation and return home to her children in Kenya.

However, her efforts to leave Saudi Arabia have encountered another obstacle, as her exit documents have expired. It remains unclear when the authorities will enforce the flogging sentence or whether she will be permitted to leave the country before then.

Speaking to The New York Times, Muthoni expressed deep fear over the punishment hanging over her.

"I am so afraid. I don’t think I can endure those lashes," she said.

Her situation has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities faced by thousands of East African women who travel to Saudi Arabia in search of employment as nannies, housekeepers and other domestic workers.

Many leave their families behind, hoping to earn money to support their children and improve their living conditions. However, cases involving pregnancy outside marriage can expose migrant workers to serious legal difficulties, particularly when they lack adequate legal representation and access to effective support.

The broader treatment of migrant domestic workers in the Gulf has also attracted criticism over concerns surrounding labour protections, access to justice, immigration documentation and the welfare of children born outside marriage.

Muthoni's case highlights the difficult position migrant workers can find themselves in when personal circumstances become entangled with restrictive laws and immigration procedures.

For the Kenyan mother, the immediate concern is no longer simply the legal battle but the uncertainty surrounding her future, the possibility of corporal punishment and the long-awaited chance to return home to her children.