Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thang’wa has raised concerns over Kenyan mothers stranded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, awaiting DNA results needed to return home with their children.
Among the affected is a mother from Vihiga County, currently homeless alongside her 8-year-old daughter. By policy, Kenyan women who give birth out of wedlock abroad must undergo DNA testing to confirm parentage before repatriation.
According to the senator, officials collected the DNA samples almost three years ago, but results have yet to be released. The prolonged delay has left mothers and children in legal and social limbo, raising fears of statelessness and indefinite hardship.
Senator Wa Thang’wa emphasized the urgency of government intervention, urging the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh and national authorities to provide answers and expedite the process. “How many more mothers and children must suffer while bureaucracy stalls?” he asked.
He also called on the public and media to hold officials accountable, highlighting the need for transparency and swift action to prevent further human suffering.
