Kenyan Senator Demands Government Action for Citizens Stranded in Saudi Arabia

Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has vowed to raise in the Senate the plight of Kenyan families stranded in Saudi Arabia due to delays in government procedures.

In a statement issued on 13 November, the Senator highlighted the case of a woman from Vihiga County who has lived in Riyadh for several years with her eight-year-old daughter. He said the mother faces an agonising decision to return to Kenya without her child or remain in Saudi Arabia indefinitely. 

“Her situation is heartbreaking. She either leaves without her daughter or remains stranded indefinitely in Saudi Arabia,” Thang’wa said.

According to the Senator, part of the problem stems from strict requirements for mothers who give birth abroad. Children born to Kenyan migrants in the Middle East often need DNA verification before they can be cleared for repatriation. In the Vihiga case, DNA samples were collected three years ago by officials from Nairobi, but the results have never been released. 

Thang’wa criticised the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh for failing to respond, questioning how many families remain in similar circumstances while official processes stall. The situation reflects broader challenges facing Kenyan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. 

Earlier this year, an investigation by The Guardian found that many Kenyan domestic workers are unable to leave the country after giving birth. Saudi law criminalises sexual relations outside marriage, leaving children born in such situations unregistered and effectively stateless. Without proper documentation, these children cannot obtain exit visas, trapping families in a cycle of uncertainty and hardship.

Thang’wa has urged affected citizens to contact him directly, promising to bring the matter formally before Parliament. His intervention adds pressure on the government to clarify the responsibilities of Kenyan embassies and improve support for nationals living abroad.

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Kenya) has also repeated its advice to migrant workers to register with Kenyan embassies before travelling for employment. The union maintains that this step is crucial to ensure protection and access to assistance in foreign countries.