Kenyan Woman Missing in Saudi Arabia as Another Returns Home Weak and Malnourished

Two Kenyan women who worked in Saudi Arabia are at the centre of separate cases that have raised concern among their families and renewed scrutiny of the treatment of migrant workers in the Gulf.

Yvonne Bugutasa, from Nairobi County, travelled to Tabuk in January 2024 after securing employment through H.A Forever Limited Agency. According to relatives, she remained in regular contact during the early months of her employment, updating them about her work and health. 

However, communication became irregular after she completed her contract and reportedly fell ill. Her family says they have since lost contact with her completely.

Bugutasa was expected to return to Kenya earlier this year, but her whereabouts remain unknown. 

Her relatives have appealed to the Kenyan government, labour agencies, and members of the Kenyan diaspora in Saudi Arabia to help trace her. The case has prompted widespread discussion online, with many Kenyans expressing concern about the safety of citizens working abroad. 

Some social media users criticised the government’s handling of labour migration and called for stronger support systems for Kenyans employed overseas. Others said the incidents reflected a broader pattern involving Kenyan women working in Gulf countries.

Bugutasa’s disappearance follows another case involving Hellen Ayuma Busiega, who had worked in Saudi Arabia for nearly three years. Reports indicate that she was abandoned by her employer before being rescued by a passer-by and taken to hospital. Her family in Kibera later said she returned to Kenya weak, malnourished, and unable to speak.