Principal Secretary State Department for Diaspora Affairs Roseline Njogu appearing before the National Assembly’s Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee on March 3, 2026. Photo Courtesy. 
By Stanley Mumo.
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs has repatriated close to 300 bodies of Kenyans from foreign countries over the past two years, Parliament has been told.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee, Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu said the Government had intensified efforts to facilitate the return of deceased Kenyans, even as lawmakers pressed for answers over specific cases, including that of Jesca Ziro in Saudi Arabia.
The session focused on a petition filed by the Integrated Center for Peace and Security (ICPS) regarding the death of Ms. Ziro in Riyadh.
Ms. Njogu told the Committee that the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh had initiated exhumation and repatriation procedures following what she described as the unauthorized burial of Ms. Ziro and eight other Kenyans in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
According to the Principal Secretary, the Embassy formally engaged Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels, including Note Verbales, high-level consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and visits to morgues, to secure approval for exhumation and repatriation.
She disclosed that on December 22, 2025, four bodies were successfully exhumed and flown back to Kenya, with the State Department covering the full transportation costs. Efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining four bodies, including that of Ms. Ziro.
However, Committee members raised concerns over gaps in documentation presented to Parliament. Lawmakers cited the absence of hospital admission records, death certificates and official correspondence between Kenyan and Saudi authorities.
In response, Ms. Njogu committed to submitting the outstanding documentation within one week.
The Committee also sought clarification on burial timelines in Saudi Arabia and the specific date of Ms. Ziro’s interment. The Principal Secretary explained that Saudi regulations permit preservation of bodies for up to 14 days before burial or repatriation. She noted that the exact date of Ms. Ziro’s burial remains unclear, as the Embassy is yet to receive official documentation related to her death.
Beyond the Saudi case, Ms. Njogu briefed MPs on the broader security situation in the Middle East and its potential impact on Kenyans working in the region.
She said the Government, through the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, has constituted a multi-agency steering committee to prepare for possible evacuations should the security situation deteriorate. Travel advisories and security alerts have also been issued, while emergency communication channels remain active to assist Kenyans abroad.
Addressing separate concerns over reports that some Kenyans may have been coerced into frontline combat roles in Russia, the Principal Secretary urged job seekers to use licensed recruitment agencies and adhere strictly to official government procedures when seeking employment overseas.
The Committee is expected to continue reviewing the petition and related documentation once the Ministry submits the additional records requested by lawmakers
