Gov’t Announces Plans For Kenyan Mothers in Saudi Arabia
Concerned that the moms have no route out of the Middle East, the government has established a slew of initiatives to assist Kenyan single mothers stranded in Saudi Arabia with their undocumented children.
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs highlighted that there is a procedural mechanism for stranded moms to leave Saudi Arabia, but it is not being used effectively.
According to the statement, the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act and the Births and Deaths Registration Act govern birth registration for Kenyans living overseas, with parents bearing responsibility.
Kenyan diplomatic posts abroad are required to collect and process birth notifications, but Saudi Arabia’s tight local rules have hindered the procedure.
On Kenyan mothers and undocumented children in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/36bplEOixV
— Roseline Kathure Njogu, CBS 🇰🇪 (@roselinenjogu) November 15, 2025
“As per Saudi Law, pre- or extra-marital sex is illegal, and carries severe penalties, including arrest, imprisonment and/or deportation,” the statement signed by Diaspora PS Roseline Njogu read.
“Thus, conception and birth issuing out of such relationships is considered proof of an offence.”
Many unmarried Kenyan moms are unable to register their children’s births because Saudi authorities want a marriage certificate before issuing a birth certificate.
However, the government has stressed that children’s rights are unaffected by their parents’ marital status, leaving a major legal gap between the two systems.
Pathways, Mwanamberi Project
In order to ensure that Kenyans in Saudi Arabia are safely repatriated, the government has established avenues for women and their undocumented children to regularize their status.
This includes the Mwanamberi Project, which started in 2023.
The project includes a consular DNA sampling operation to help establish parentage, allowing infants born out of wedlock to receive Kenyan birth certificates and documents for citizenship.
The government also confirmed the presence of Kenyan missions in Riyadh and Jeddah, which have set up special channels for concerned moms to submit birth registration forms and get processed certificates.
“We urge the single mothers in KSA with undocumented children to utilise the pathways already created by the Government of Kenya to regularize their status and procure documentation for their children,” the statement added.
“They may contact the Embassy of Kenya in Riyadh, the Consulate in Jeddah, or the State Department for Diaspora Affairs in Nairobi. We urge those whose birth certificates are lying at the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh to immediately collect them.”
Concerns have also been expressed about the Mwanamberi Project’s low attendance since it was established.
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Only 113 parents sought birth certificates, and while 110 documents were processed, only one-third of the 113 applicants received them.
Kenyans in trouble have also been encouraged to register on the Diaspora Ministry’s official website, allowing the government to better follow individuals and respond in emergencies.
The administration responded days after Kiambu Senator Karung’o wa Thag’wa posted a video on social media.
The video highlighted the plight of a Kenyan mother who had resorted to living in the streets after her job was terminated.
Gov’t Announces Plans For Kenyan Mothers in Saudi Arabia
