More than 1,000 Kenyans are incarcerated in foreign jails are receiving active support through Kenya’s embassies, according to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. The government says it is working around the clock to ensure detainees get fair treatment, consular assistance, and help navigating legal systems in their host countries. Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, Mudavadi emphasized that the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs is tracking all known cases of detained Kenyans and engaging with authorities abroad to monitor trials, provide translation services, and ensure humane treatment.
“We work, we communicate, and we follow up through diplomatic channels daily. It’s part of our mandate,” Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi said during a meeting with Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan recently freed from Saudi Arabia’s death row after serving 14 years.“We stood with Stephen from the start. We didn’t publicize the fight, but we stayed the course,” Mudavadi said. “That is the kind of commitment we extend to all Kenyans in distress abroad.”
“Most of those arrested don’t fully understand the legal risks they face. We provide language support, keep their families informed, and stay engaged throughout the process,” Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi said. “We may not always win the case, but we never stop trying.” He further called for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be integrated into Kenya’s National Security Council, citing its growing role in protecting citizens amid rising global migration and legal threats.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi pushed back on claims that the government had turned its back on citizens in foreign prisons. “It’s not factual when someone says the Kenyan government has abandoned its citizens. That’s not true,” he said. He made clear that the ministry does not interfere with foreign judicial processes or judge the guilt or innocence of individuals, but is focused on ensuring basic rights are respected. “Our role is to facilitate humane treatment, support due process, and advocate for release when possible,” he stated.
Data from the ministry shows close to 1,000 Kenyans are currently incarcerated in various countries, mostly in Asia and the Middle East. Many face charges ranging from drug trafficking to immigration violations and labor disputes. The ministry has sent officials to attend court hearings and offer legal translation services in countries such as the UAE, Qatar, India, and China.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi also disclosed that a formal report was tabled in Parliament in March, outlining legal charges and appeals involving Kenyans abroad. He urged lawmakers to review the legal framework for protecting diaspora citizens, including creating a fund for emergency legal aid.
The government is also pushing for early public awareness on legal pitfalls overseas, warning Kenyans against falling into criminal schemes, especially in high-risk labor destinations.
Munyakho’s release, secured through legal appeals and quiet diplomacy, is now being used as a model case for future consular efforts.
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