Kiambu senator vows parliamentary action over Kenyan mothers stranded in Saudi Arabia
By Faith Lagat, November 16, 2025Kiambu senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has pledged to take decisive action in Parliament regarding a Kenyan mother and her two young children, including a two-week-old infant, reportedly living on the streets of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Thang’wa expressed outrage on X, stating, “Another Kenyan mother with two children, one barely two weeks old, is languishing on the streets of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. And all this time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs remains in denial.”
The senator questioned the perceived inaction of Kenyan authorities, asking, “If I can reach these women personally, why can’t the ministry and the Kenyan embassy in Riyadh reach them?”
He described the situation as more than a misunderstanding, declaring, “This is no longer a misunderstanding. It is negligence.” Thang’wa announced his intention to raise the matter in Parliament, stating, “On Tuesday, I will seize Parliament on this matter. Heads must roll.”
Challenges for Kenyan workers Abroad
The development comes amid growing concerns about the treatment of Kenyan workers, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Despite the announcement of a new minimum wage of 1,000 Saudi Riyals (approximately Ksh34,455) effective February 2026, the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh highlighted ongoing challenges.
It urged workers to verify the wage implementation with employers and report non-compliance, affirming, “The Embassy remains committed to supporting the welfare and rights of all Kenyan nationals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Reports of abuse continue to overshadow reforms, with investigations revealing violence, forced confinement, and unexplained deaths among Kenyan domestic workers.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi warned of criminal networks luring Kenyans with fake job offers, sometimes leading to forced labour or cybercrime operations.
Bureaucratic hurdles and humanitarian concerns
Thang’wa has previously highlighted bureaucratic delays affecting Kenyan mothers. He cited a case of a woman from Vihiga County left homeless with her eight-year-old daughter due to unresolved DNA tests, criticising the three-year delay.
“How many more mothers must wait? How many children must grow up stateless, homeless, and forgotten while offices trade silence and bureaucracy?” he questioned.
The Kenyan government has however, moved to address the complex legal and humanitarian challenges facing Kenyan mothers and their undocumented children in Saudi Arabia.
PS Roseline Njogu said the State Department for Diaspora Affairs initiated targeted interventions after noting the sharp differences between Kenyan and Saudi laws on births, particularly the criminalisation of extramarital pregnancies in the Kingdom, which has left many women unable to register their children.
She added that in 2023, the government launched an inaugural DNA sampling initiative through the Mobile Consular Services, known as the “Mwanamberi Project.” The programme collects DNA samples from affected mothers and children to verify parentage, paving the way for the issuance of birth certificates and citizenship documentation.
Njogu said the initiative represents a crucial step in regularising the children’s status and strengthening long-term consular support for the families.