The Kenyan embassy in Saudi Arabia has issued a formal statement refuting claims in a viral social media video where masked women alleged they were neglected by the mission after seeking help due to mistreatment by their employers. The embassy described the allegations as baseless and emphasized its positive relationship with the Saudi Manpower Solutions Company (SMASCO).
A recent viral video showed masked women claiming that the Kenyan embassy in Riyadh had abandoned them without assistance at the Saudi Manpower Solutions Company (SMASCO) accommodation center. The women alleged they sought help from the mission following mistreatment by their employers, but were denied support.
In a statement released on the evening of Saturday, February 14, 2026, the embassy dismissed the claims as unfounded. "The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Riyadh takes note of a video circulating online, alleging neglect and misconduct in assisting Kenyans at Saudi Manpower Solutions Company (SMASCO) accommodation centre. The Embassy wishes to clarify that these claims are unfounded," the statement read.
SMASCO is a licensed entity operating legally in Saudi Arabia, providing manpower and support services as an intermediary between employers and foreign workers, including many Kenyans. In recent days, several videos have surfaced on social media showing individuals claiming to be Kenyans who fled their workplaces and approached the embassy to return home.
In one video, a woman described arriving at the embassy while ill, only to be denied help. She claimed they went on strike to pressure a departure from Saudi Arabia but were neglected by the embassy. "We have the embassy's contacts. I have been here for weeks and when we try to contact the embassy, once they hear we are seeking repatriation, they ignore us," an individual in the video said.
The embassy stressed that SMASCO operates under the regulatory framework of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia, subject to government oversight. It maintains structured and ongoing engagement with the company to safeguard the welfare of Kenyan nationals at the facility, including weekly visits by officials to check on their well-being.
Regarding repatriation, the mission highlighted recent efforts, noting that between July 2025 and January 2026, it facilitated the return of over 2500 Kenyans to their home country. Despite refuting the video's claims, the embassy stated it would verify the allegations during its routine visits.
