Senator Accuses Kenya of Neglecting Children Trapped in Saudi Arabia

Ruling‑party lawmaker slams President William Ruto’s response

In a sharply worded statement delivered on Thursday, a senior member of Kenya’s ruling party denounced the government’s handling of the growing humanitarian crisis involving Kenyan children stranded in Saudi Arabia. The senator warned that the administration’s inaction could have severe political repercussions.

The children, many of whom were sent abroad for work or education, have found themselves caught in a web of legal and bureaucratic obstacles that prevent their safe return home. Local NGOs report that families are struggling to secure the necessary documentation and financial support, while the Kenyan embassy in Riyadh has been criticized for its limited assistance.

“Heads must roll,” the senator declared, emphasizing the urgency of a decisive response from President William Ruto and his cabinet. “We cannot allow our most vulnerable citizens to be abandoned abroad while our government turns a blind eye.”

The accusation marks a direct rebuke of President Ruto’s recent promises to protect Kenyan migrants overseas. Opposition parties have already seized on the remarks, calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the embassy’s conduct and demanding immediate diplomatic intervention.

Human‑rights advocates urge the Kenyan government to mobilize emergency consular teams, expedite visa processing, and negotiate with Saudi authorities to ensure the children’s safe repatriation. “The lives of these young Kenyans are at stake,” said one activist, “and the state has a moral and legal duty to act now.”