Baby Precious Finally Reunited With Mother After Years Stranded in Saudi Arabia

Baby Precious Wambui has been reunited with her mother, Peninah Wanjiru, in Nairobi after a lengthy diplomatic effort to secure the child’s return from Saudi Arabia.

Wanjiru travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2019 for employment but later lost her residency status after leaving her designated employer. She subsequently lived without legal documentation and gave birth to Precious in 2022.

Wanjiru avoided hospitals during her pregnancy and childbirth because she feared arrest and deportation. The lack of formal marriage and residency documents also prevented Precious from obtaining a birth certificate and dependent status under Saudi regulations.

The situation became more difficult when Wanjiru was detained during a police operation and deported to Kenya without her daughter. Precious remained in Saudi Arabia while authorities required DNA verification and other documents before she could be cleared to travel.

After returning to Kenya, Wanjiru began seeking government assistance to have her daughter brought home. Her efforts led to the involvement of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, the Kenya Embassy in Riyadh and the State Department for Children Services.

The repatriation process began in early 2025 and involved negotiations and legal verification with Saudi authorities. The child was eventually released and returned to Kenya.

Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline K Njogu and Children Services Principal Secretary CPA Carren Ageng’o formally oversaw the reunion and handed Precious back to her mother. Njogu said the case demonstrated the role of the Diaspora Affairs Department in assisting Kenyans facing difficulties abroad. The department was established in December 2022.

According to Njogu, Precious is the eighth minor to be successfully repatriated through the department since its establishment. She also commended the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh and other agencies involved in securing the child’s return.