Kenya has announced new measures to support single mothers and their undocumented children trapped in Saudi Arabia, where strict local laws have made it nearly impossible for many to return home.

The State Department for Diaspora Affairs said many affected families have not been using the official channels available to them, despite growing concerns that hundreds of women remain stuck without documentation or legal pathways out of the Gulf state.

In a statement released on Friday and signed by Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu, the ministry said the legal framework exists — but few mothers are coming forward to begin the process.

“We urge the single mothers in KSA with undocumented children to utilise the pathways already created by the Government of Kenya,” the ministry said, directing families to contact the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh, the Consulate in Jeddah, or the Nairobi-based diaspora office.

A Clash of Laws — and Lives in Limbo

Under Kenyan law, parents must register the births of their children abroad through the country’s diplomatic missions. But Saudi Arabia requires a marriage certificate before it issues a birth record — a hurdle that many unmarried migrant mothers cannot meet.

The result is a legal trap: children who qualify for Kenyan citizenship on paper cannot obtain the documents needed to travel, while mothers risk arrest if they attempt to leave without their children.

“As per Saudi law, pre or extra-marital sex is illegal… conception and birth issuing out of such relationships is considered proof of an offence,” the statement noted.

Kenya maintains that a child’s rights are not tied to the marital status of the parents. But in Saudi Arabia, authorities treat the absence of a marriage certificate as proof of wrongdoing — a disconnect that has left scores of children unregistered and unable to exit the country.

The Mwanamberi Project: A Quiet Lifeline

To address these cases, Kenya launched the Mwanamberi Project in 2023 — a DNA-based initiative that confirms parentage and allows children born out of wedlock to receive Kenyan birth certificates.

The government says uptake has been strikingly low.
Only 113 parents have applied in two years. Of those, 110 certificates were processed — and only a third have been collected.

Officials say dozens of completed certificates remain unclaimed at the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh.

Efforts With Saudi Arabia — and Slow Progress

Kenya has also formed a Joint Interdepartmental Working Group with Saudi authorities involving the Saudi Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Labour, Interior, and the passports directorate.

This cooperation has led to:

• 59 mothers repatriated

• 73 children returned home safely

• An amnesty allowing undocumented Kenyans to leave without fines or detention

But the ministry says more families need to come forward to benefit from these measures.

Additionally, Kenyans in distress are being encouraged to register through the official Diaspora Affairs portal, which helps the government track citizens and intervene during emergencies.

A Senator’s Plea and Public Outcry

The government’s announcement came days after Kiambu Senator Karung’o wa Tang’wa posted a video showing a Kenyan mother living on the streets in Saudi Arabia after losing her job. The video reignited public anger and placed pressure on officials to respond.

For many women still stranded, the new reassurances offer a rare glimmer of hope — but only if they can overcome fear, stigma, and bureaucratic hurdles to seek help.