Kenya's Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu has refuted allegations that Kenyan mothers and their children are stuck in Saudi Arabia due to delayed DNA test results. The claims, raised by Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thangwa, highlight bureaucratic hurdles faced by migrant workers. Njogu stated that necessary documents have already been processed for many cases.
On November 13, 2025, Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thangwa took to social media to spotlight the plight of Kenyan mothers and children stranded in Saudi Arabia, citing bureaucratic delays at the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh. He described the case of a woman from Vihiga County and her eight-year-old daughter, who have been unable to return home for nearly three years after DNA samples were collected by Kenyan officials three years prior. "Her situation is heartbreaking. She either leaves without her daughter or remains stranded indefinitely in Saudi Arabia," Thangwa said. He explained that Kenyan women giving birth out of wedlock in Saudi Arabia must undergo DNA testing to secure clearance for their children to leave, but no results or updates have been provided.
Thangwa questioned the ongoing delays, asking, "How many more mothers must wait? How many children must grow up stateless, homeless, and forgotten while offices trade silence and bureaucracy?" He vowed to raise the issue in the Senate and urged affected Kenyans to contact him directly for assistance.
In response, Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu issued a statement denying the claims, clarifying that DNA results are not mandatory for issuing birth certificates to children born to Kenyan mothers abroad. "DNA samples are not required for birth certificates to be issued—but they can be relied on when parents cannot produce birth certificates," she said. Njogu noted that all birth certificate applications from the 2023 DNA project have been processed, leading to the repatriation of 73 children and over 50 mothers. She offered to assist with specific details, saying, "Let me have the details of this birth certificate application, and our team can help."
The senator affirmed his commitment to push for faster repatriation through the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh. This incident echoes broader concerns about Kenyan migrant workers in the Middle East, where an earlier Guardian investigation revealed challenges in registering children born outside marriage under Saudi laws that criminalize premarital sex, leaving them stateless without exit visas.