The senator, who recently toured Saudi Arabia to meet stranded Kenyans, said on Wednesday that a man popularly known as Kiongozi was apprehended shortly after publicly sharing details about the hardships faced by dozens of Kenyans — particularly mothers — living homeless in Riyadh.
According to Karungo, the arrest happened just days after the man received threatening messages warning him to stop “ruining the reputation” of Saudi Arabia by speaking out about the desperate situation of migrant workers.
In his public statement, Senator Thang’wa expressed deep concern about what he described as a coordinated attempt to silence Kenyans who reveal violations happening in the Middle East.
He wrote that Kiongozi had been one of the distressed Kenyans he met during his tour of Riyadh. The senator explained that he had personally witnessed the suffering of many Kenyans — especially young single mothers — who had been left stuck in the foreign country due to slow processes at the Kenyan Embassy.
He added that after revealing the ongoing crisis, threats began pouring in through WhatsApp status updates, where anonymous individuals — allegedly Saudi nationals — warned him and others to “respect Saudi Arabia” or face serious consequences.
One of the warnings mentioned that those who “talk bad about Saudi Arabia” would face “surgery,” a phrase the senator interpreted as a threat of violence.
According to Karungo, the threatening messages appeared to be written by a Saudi businessman with known business interests in Kenya.
“This is exactly what I have been saying,” he declared.
“When Kenyans speak out about the abuse and suffering, they are intimidated, threatened, or even detained. The truth is that many of our people are suffering silently.”
For years, Saudi Arabia has been one of the top destinations for Kenyans seeking employment abroad, especially domestic workers. However, troubling reports have continued to emerge involving:
Physical abuse
Sexual harassment
Unpaid salaries
Overworking
Lack of legal protection
Wrongful detention
Confiscation of passports
Homelessness
Senator Karungo’s recent visit confirmed that dozens of Kenyan women, most of them mothers, are living on the streets with their children.
For years, Saudi Arabia has been one of the top destinations for Kenyans seeking employment abroad, especially domestic workers. However, troubling reports have continued to emerge involving:
Physical abuse
Sexual harassment
Unpaid salaries
Overworking
Lack of legal protection
Wrongful detention
Confiscation of passports
Homelessness
Senator Karungo’s recent visit confirmed that dozens of Kenyan women, most of them mothers, are living on the streets with their children.
Others cannot return home because the Kenyan Embassy has not completed crucial documentation, including DNA tests required for children born in Saudi Arabia.
During the senator’s tour on November 13, he posted videos and photos showing heartbreaking scenes of stranded mothers sleeping outside buildings in Riyadh.
During the senator’s tour on November 13, he posted videos and photos showing heartbreaking scenes of stranded mothers sleeping outside buildings in Riyadh.
He explained that leaving the country with children requires official DNA verification. Many mothers claimed they had taken these DNA tests years ago, yet the results had never been released.
One disturbing case involved a mother from Vihiga County who has been living on Saudi streets for years with her eight-year-old son.
One disturbing case involved a mother from Vihiga County who has been living on Saudi streets for years with her eight-year-old son.
According to her, the DNA test for her child was taken three years earlier by officials from Kenya, but she has never received any results.
Many of these mothers entered Saudi Arabia seeking better jobs, only to find themselves trapped by bureaucratic delays and harsh laws.
A recent New York Times investigation published on November 10 revealed the grim reality for unwed Kenyan women who give birth in Saudi Arabia.
Many of these mothers entered Saudi Arabia seeking better jobs, only to find themselves trapped by bureaucratic delays and harsh laws.
A recent New York Times investigation published on November 10 revealed the grim reality for unwed Kenyan women who give birth in Saudi Arabia.
Because of strict religious laws, giving birth outside marriage is considered immoral and illegal.
The report stated that such women can be jailed, and their children often have no legal documentation. Without papers, the children “do not exist” in the eyes of the state, trapping both mother and child in a legal limbo.
This creates a heartbreaking cycle:
Women cannot return home
Children have no passports or birth certificates
Abuse cases against domestic workers go unpunished
Employers deny responsibility
Embassies delay essential services
The report also suggested that many pregnancies resulted from abuse by employers or male co-workers — a fact that has been echoed for years by activists and migration groups.
The arrest of Kiongozi has sparked a public outcry, with many Kenyans calling for immediate action from both the Kenyan and Saudi governments.
For Senator Karungo, the arrest proves a long-held suspicion — that individuals who speak up about mistreatment in the Gulf face targeted intimidation.
The report stated that such women can be jailed, and their children often have no legal documentation. Without papers, the children “do not exist” in the eyes of the state, trapping both mother and child in a legal limbo.
This creates a heartbreaking cycle:
Women cannot return home
Children have no passports or birth certificates
Abuse cases against domestic workers go unpunished
Employers deny responsibility
Embassies delay essential services
The report also suggested that many pregnancies resulted from abuse by employers or male co-workers — a fact that has been echoed for years by activists and migration groups.
The arrest of Kiongozi has sparked a public outcry, with many Kenyans calling for immediate action from both the Kenyan and Saudi governments.
For Senator Karungo, the arrest proves a long-held suspicion — that individuals who speak up about mistreatment in the Gulf face targeted intimidation.
He urged Kenyans everywhere to highlight the situation until the detained man is freed and until the safety of all migrant workers is guaranteed.
“This is the reality of what our people go through,” he said.
“This is the reality of what our people go through,” he said.
“When they speak out, they are silenced. But we must not allow this to continue.”
One of the biggest concerns raised during the senator’s visit was the extremely slow pace of DNA verification for children of Kenyan mothers. These DNA tests are necessary for:
Obtaining emergency travel documents
Verifying citizenship
Allowing children to be cleared for exit
However, many mothers said the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh has failed to process these tests on time. Some say they have waited between two and five years.
The delays have caused:
Homelessness
Psychological trauma
Inability to access healthcare
Unemployment
Hunger and malnutrition
Constant risk of arrest
According to activists and human rights organizations, several factors contribute to homelessness among Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia:
1. Contract Violations by Employers
One of the biggest concerns raised during the senator’s visit was the extremely slow pace of DNA verification for children of Kenyan mothers. These DNA tests are necessary for:
Obtaining emergency travel documents
Verifying citizenship
Allowing children to be cleared for exit
However, many mothers said the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh has failed to process these tests on time. Some say they have waited between two and five years.
The delays have caused:
Homelessness
Psychological trauma
Inability to access healthcare
Unemployment
Hunger and malnutrition
Constant risk of arrest
According to activists and human rights organizations, several factors contribute to homelessness among Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia:
1. Contract Violations by Employers
Many workers claim they are forced to work long hours without pay, and when they complain, their employers eject them from the house.
2. Confiscation of Passports
2. Confiscation of Passports
In many Gulf countries, employers are allowed to confiscate the passports of domestic workers, leaving them without documentation.
3. Embassy Delays
The embassy often lacks resources to:
Provide shelter
Fast-track travel papers
Assist with cases of abuse
4. Fear of Reporting Abuse
Because abusers often face no consequences, workers fear reporting cases to authorities.
5. Children Born Out of Abuse
Women with undocumented children cannot leave the country until DNA tests and legal processes are completed.
Karungo has urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh, and the Ministry of Labour to immediately intervene.
The embassy often lacks resources to:
Provide shelter
Fast-track travel papers
Assist with cases of abuse
4. Fear of Reporting Abuse
Because abusers often face no consequences, workers fear reporting cases to authorities.
5. Children Born Out of Abuse
Women with undocumented children cannot leave the country until DNA tests and legal processes are completed.
Karungo has urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh, and the Ministry of Labour to immediately intervene.
He emphasized that Kenya cannot continue sending young women for domestic work without solving the ongoing issues.
His recommendations include:
Speeding up DNA testing
Expanding shelter capacity in Saudi Arabia
Creating a hotline for abused workers
Increasing embassy funding
Investigating threats and arrests
Discussing policy reforms with Saudi authorities
Protecting whistleblowers like Kiongozi
Saudi Arabia has previously dismissed such reports, insisting that:
Most employers treat workers fairly
Only a few isolated cases exist
Legal protections are in place
However, migrant rights groups argue that the reality is far worse and that many cases go unreported because workers are afraid of retaliation.
Despite continuous complaints, Kenya continues sending thousands of domestic workers to Saudi Arabia every year. These workers are among the lowest-paid and least protected foreign laborers in the Gulf.
Many Kenyans say the economic desperation back home leaves them with no choice but to take these risky job opportunities.
After the senator announced the arrest of Kiongozi, the story spread quickly across social media, with many Kenyans demanding:
Immediate release of the detained man
Government intervention
A halt to sending workers to Saudi Arabia
Accountability from recruitment agencies
Better legal protections for migrant workers
His recommendations include:
Speeding up DNA testing
Expanding shelter capacity in Saudi Arabia
Creating a hotline for abused workers
Increasing embassy funding
Investigating threats and arrests
Discussing policy reforms with Saudi authorities
Protecting whistleblowers like Kiongozi
Saudi Arabia has previously dismissed such reports, insisting that:
Most employers treat workers fairly
Only a few isolated cases exist
Legal protections are in place
However, migrant rights groups argue that the reality is far worse and that many cases go unreported because workers are afraid of retaliation.
Despite continuous complaints, Kenya continues sending thousands of domestic workers to Saudi Arabia every year. These workers are among the lowest-paid and least protected foreign laborers in the Gulf.
Many Kenyans say the economic desperation back home leaves them with no choice but to take these risky job opportunities.
After the senator announced the arrest of Kiongozi, the story spread quickly across social media, with many Kenyans demanding:
Immediate release of the detained man
Government intervention
A halt to sending workers to Saudi Arabia
Accountability from recruitment agencies
Better legal protections for migrant workers
