Kenya Urges Mothers in Saudi Arabia to Register Undocumented Children

Kenya has urged mothers living in Saudi Arabia with undocumented children to use available legal channels to secure official documents and protect their children’s status.

The government’s renewed call follows continued concern over the difficulties faced by Kenyan women in Saudi Arabia, where strict laws have left many children unregistered. Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs Roseline Njogu said Kenya is expanding its efforts to support citizens abroad, focusing on women and children who struggle to access registration services.

She noted that the government is applying a “sustained, citizen-centred” approach to address these cases. Saudi Arabia’s laws criminalise sexual relations outside marriage, placing women who give birth under such circumstances at risk of arrest, detention, or deportation.

Many avoid hospitals for fear of prosecution, resulting in home births without trained medical assistance. Without a marriage certificate, authorities do not issue birth certificates, leaving affected children without legal identity or access to basic rights.

Njogu contrasted this with Kenya’s legal framework, which grants equal rights to all children regardless of their parents’ marital status. To help families regularise their status, the State Department launched the Mwanamberi Project in 2023, offering mobile consular services for DNA registration and birth certification.

However, participation remained low. Of the 707 DNA samples collected, including 388 from children, only 113 parents applied for birth certificates. Although most of these applications were processed, only a third of families have collected the documents from the embassy in Riyadh. Officials have repeatedly contacted parents, but many remain unwilling to come forward.

Kenya has also set up a Joint Interdepartmental Working Group with Saudi agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the General Directorate of Passports, to coordinate support. This collaboration has enabled the safe repatriation of 59 mothers and 73 children.

Nairobi additionally secured an amnesty allowing undocumented nationals to return home without penalties, though uptake has been limited. Njogu has appealed to mothers to seek assistance from Kenyan diplomatic missions, to register births promptly, to comply with local laws, and to enrol with the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs for easier access to emergency support.

She said these steps are essential to protect children’s rights and ensure timely help when needed.