HOW OVER 100 KENYANS WERE ARRESTED IN RIYADH IN ONE NIGHT

A crack down on illegal expatriates in Saudi capital Riyadh over the weekend resulted in the arrest of up-to 100 Kenyans.

Saudi police in partnership with other security agencies conducted raids in various estates and rest houses locally known as “Istrahas” in which a number of Kenyans were arrested.

According to sources, the raids were conducted in the wee hours of Thursday night in which Saudi police stormed two different rest houses (istrahas) within the capital Riyadh.

In the first istraha, 26 men of different nationalities, 5 Kenyan women and 1 Ethiopian woman were arrested and police seized different drugs including alcohol which is prohibited in the Kingdom.

Police then conducted a second raid in which Saudi special police had to fire in the air after confrontation. 103 men of different nationalities, 24 Kenyan women and 2 Ethiopian women were arrested during this second raid. A number of drugs including alcohol, bhang as well as a pistol were also found with those arrested.

A Kenyan woman was said to be in possession of the pistol found during the second raid and police commenced an investigation on the matter. Those arrested will be charged with prostitution, possession of illegal drugs as well as violations of labor and residency regulations.

This is not the first time Kenyans have been arrested in Saudi Arabia while engaging in illegal vices this year. In February, 29 Kenyan women were arrested as been part of prostitution racket in the capital Riyadh, 15 Kenyan were also arrested in Dammam city in October with similar number of arrests happening in Jeddah.

Saudi government commenced a crackdown on illegal expatriates dubbed “a nation without violators” after the end of a 90 days amnesty for illegal expats to leave the Kingdom.