Kenyan mothers in Saudi Arabia face hurdles registering children born out of wedlock

The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has been accused of making life difficult for Kenyan mothers who give birth out of wedlock in Saudi Arabia. The government reportedly refuses to register their children unless they undergo DNA testing, leaving many children undocumented and stateless, and preventing mothers from returning home with them. One such case is Penina Wanjiru Kihiu, a 31-year-old mother, who was forced to leave her toddler, Precious, in a daycare after being deported in March this year. Despite repeated attempts to secure help from the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Penina says the DNA testing process remains unclear and poorly defined.