The government has promised stronger protection for Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi said Kenya is working with the Kingdom to strengthen cooperation on labour mobility and improve safeguards for Kenyans seeking employment there.
Speaking in Riyadh on Sunday after co-chairing the inaugural Kenya–Saudi Arabia Political Consultations with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Mudavadi said the government will tackle labour mobility challenges and protect the rights and dignity of Kenyans working overseas.
“The government is determined to address labour mobility issues and to protect the rights and dignity of Kenyans working overseas through regular and safe labour mobility pathways,” he said.
Mudavadi added that protecting workers involves more than helping them secure jobs abroad. He said the government will also ensure Kenyans get access to support when they encounter difficulties while living and working overseas.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu said the government has expanded its services to better support Kenyans living abroad.
Njogu said the State Department has strengthened consular services and set up a 24-hour emergency response center to help Kenyans who face distress overseas get faster assistance.
She also urged Kenyans seeking jobs in Saudi Arabia and other countries to use government-approved recruitment channels rather than unlicensed agents. She said the move would reduce the risk of fraud, exploitation, and abuse.
Mudavadi said the government wants Kenyans living abroad to take a bigger role in Kenya’s economic development. He urged them to invest in businesses and projects that create jobs and support growth.
“The Government has laid the groundwork for Kenyans abroad to scale up their economic contribution and transition from ‘senders of aid’ into active, high-value investors in Kenya’s strategic investment vehicles,” he said.
He highlighted opportunities in affordable housing, healthcare, education, technology, renewable energy, and the digital economy.
The engagement also included an open forum where Kenyans in Saudi Arabia shared their experiences, concerns, and recommendations with government officials. Officials and participants discussed workers’ welfare, access to government services, and ways for the diaspora to invest in Kenya.
