Kenyan Nurse in Saudi Arabia Celebrates Paying Off Family Home Mortgage Back in Kenya Amid Diaspora Remittance Surge

Country: Saudi Arabia
Date Published: November 27, 2025

Nairobi, Kenya – A Kenyan nurse working in Saudi Arabia has captured the hearts of thousands on X (formerly Twitter) after sharing her emotional moment of fully paying off her family's mortgage back home. The post, which went viral with over 15,000 likes and hundreds of retweets within hours, highlighted the sacrifices and triumphs of the Kenyan diaspora. User @MercyNurseKSA, a verified healthcare worker with a following of 50K, posted a photo of the mortgage clearance certificate alongside a heartfelt caption: "After 7 years of double shifts in Riyadh, today's the day! No more debts hanging over mum's head. God bless Kenya diaspora! #KenyansAbroad #HustlePays."

The story resonated deeply amid ongoing discussions on X about remittances, which Kenyans abroad sent over KSh 700 billion ($5.4 billion) in the past year, according to Central Bank data frequently cited in threads. @MercyNurseKSA detailed her journey in a follow-up thread, explaining how she started as a casual laborer before qualifying as a nurse through online certifications. "Left Kenya with KSh 20,000 savings in 2018. Today, house is ours free and clear. Ladies, don't give up!" she wrote, sparking a flood of replies from fellow Kenyans in the Gulf sharing similar success stories. Influencer @DiasporaVibesKE amplified the post, calling it "proof that Saudi hustle is real – positive vibes only for 2025."

However, the celebration wasn't without controversy, as some users criticized the "brain drain" narrative. Accounts like @KenyaDoctorsUnion questioned why skilled professionals like nurses must seek opportunities abroad, replying: "Congrats Mercy, but when will Kenya fix its healthcare to keep talent home? #FixHealthKE." This sparked a heated debate with over 500 replies, including defenses from diaspora voices arguing that remittances fund 20% of Kenya's economy. News outlet @K24Tv posted a poll asking if diaspora remittances are a "blessing or curse," which garnered 10K votes leaning towards blessing.

The viral thread has reignited conversations about the dual-edged sword of Kenyan migration to the Middle East, where over 100,000 Kenyans work primarily in healthcare and domestic sectors. While @MercyNurseKSA's story embodies the positive side – financial stability and family upliftment – it underscores broader challenges like homesickness and exploitation risks highlighted in recent X discussions. As one regular user @HomeBoy254 noted: "Mercy is the reason aunties back home have TVs and cars. Keep shining!" With Christmas approaching, expect more such feel-good diaspora tales trending on X.