Kenya has pledged to strengthen protections for its citizens working in Saudi Arabia, amid growing concern over the welfare of migrant workers in the Gulf and renewed efforts to deepen economic ties with the Kenyan diaspora.
Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, said the government was working with Saudi authorities to improve labour mobility arrangements and ensure Kenyans seeking jobs abroad are better protected.
“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,” Mudavadi said on Sunday in Riyadh.
He spoke after co-chairing the inaugural Kenya–Saudi Arabia Political Consultations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, a meeting that signalled closer cooperation between the two countries on employment, trade and investment.
Beyond Jobs, A Focus on Welfare
For many Kenyan families, employment in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states has become an important source of income. Yet reports of exploitation, unpaid wages and difficult working conditions have periodically raised questions about how migrant workers are protected.
Mudavadi said the government’s responsibility did not end once workers secured jobs abroad.
“Protecting workers also means ensuring they can access assistance when they face challenges while living and working overseas,” he said.
Emergency Support for Kenyans Abroad
Roseline Njogu, the Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, said Kenya had expanded its support services for citizens living outside the country.
“Our mandate is rooted in inclusivity,” she said.
She said the State Department had strengthened consular services and introduced a 24-hour emergency response centre to provide quicker assistance to Kenyans in distress abroad.
Njogu also urged job seekers to use government-approved recruitment agencies rather than unlicensed brokers, warning that informal channels often expose workers to fraud, exploitation and abuse.
Turning Remittances into Investment
Alongside worker protection, Kenyan officials used the Riyadh visit to encourage the diaspora to play a larger role in the country’s economic development.
“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,” Mudavadi said.
He pointed to opportunities in affordable housing, healthcare, education, technology, renewable energy and the digital economy as areas where diaspora capital could help create jobs and support growth.
Listening to Workers
The visit also included an open forum with members of the Kenyan community in Saudi Arabia, who shared concerns about worker welfare, access to government services and opportunities to invest back home.
For Kenya, the message was clear: overseas employment remains an important economic lifeline, but the government says it wants that opportunity to come with greater safety, stronger support and a clearer path for the diaspora to contribute to the country’s future.
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