A woman from Mombasa has shared her painful experience of being deported from Saudi Arabia after authorities discovered she had two children with a Saudi national outside marriage.
Ann Muthoni said she relocated to Saudi Arabia in search of better opportunities, where she later fell in love with a Saudi man. Their relationship resulted in the birth of two sons.
According to her account, life took a dramatic turn after her partner was arrested shortly after the birth of their second child, leaving her to care for the children on her own.
She recalled that the incident leading to her arrest began when her elder son wandered out of the house without her knowledge and was found walking alone in the streets.
Police officers picked up the child and took him to a nearby police station. When Ann went to collect him, she provided information about her family situation, including that the children’s father was a Saudi national and that they were not married.
She said the revelation prompted authorities to arrest her, as having children outside marriage is treated as a serious offence under Saudi law.
Ann was subsequently detained before immigration procedures were initiated, eventually leading to her deportation to Kenya.
Despite the difficult circumstances, she was able to return home with both of her children after their father formally consented to their travel.
She explained that his approval was essential in allowing the children to leave Saudi Arabia and accompany her back to Kenya.
Reflecting on her experience, Ann described the ordeal as life-changing, saying what began as a search for better opportunities ended with imprisonment and deportation.
