The government has intensified efforts to safeguard Kenyans employed abroad, rescuing more than 500 citizens from difficult situations since 2022.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi made the announcement on Wednesday during the ministry’s third quarterly media briefing. He said the State is determined to protect migrant workers from exploitation, particularly by dishonest recruitment firms.
Mudavadi was joined by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei and Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu, who both emphasized the government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of Kenyans in the diaspora.
“We have successfully rescued and brought home over 500 Kenyans since 2022,” Mudavadi said. “Close to 600 untrustworthy job agencies have been investigated and struck off the list. We’re also exploring a plan to publish the names of those found guilty of exploiting our people.”
Recent examples include a Kenyan mother and her daughter who were assisted to return home from Qatar after facing tough conditions, and a young boy brought back from Indonesia after his mother was imprisoned. The child was received at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and reunited with his grandmother and aunt.
Mudavadi also pointed out that in countries such as Saudi Arabia, a large number of Kenyan workers struggle with issues of undocumented children. Through a government initiative known as Mobile Consular Services, 707 DNA samples have been collected to confirm parentage. The confirmed cases have enabled the issuance of birth certificates and the return of mothers and their children.
He credited these achievements to the Joint Interdepartmental Working Group (JIWG), which was established in January 2025. The task force brings together Kenya’s embassy officials in Saudi Arabia and key Saudi government departments, including Foreign Affairs, Labour, and Interior.
“The group’s coordinated work has led to the safe return of 59 mothers and 73 children,” Mudavadi said.
These actions come amid rising reports of Kenyans enduring mistreatment abroad, especially in Gulf countries. While the government insists that such incidents remain isolated, it continues to strengthen systems aimed at protecting citizens working overseas.
Mudavadi urged Kenyans seeking foreign employment to go through registered agencies and to alert authorities if they encounter abuse or mistreatment.
“Our goal is to make sure Kenyans working outside the country are treated with dignity and fairness,” he added.
