93 Kenyans Have Died in Gulf Nations Since 2019, Government Says

Nearly 100 Kenyans have died in Gulf countries in the past two years, the government has said.

Appearing before a parliament committee on Tuesday, Labor Principal Secretary Peter Tum said 93 Kenyans have passed away in the Middle East since 2019.

He told National Assembly’s Labor and Social Welfare Committee that the fatalities are from the 87,784 employments the ministry has facilitated in the Gulf region.

Tum pointed out that most of the deaths are attributed to cardiac arrest and COVID-19 while others were caused by cancer, childbirth, respiratory complications, tuberculosis, and meningitis. There were also cases of accidents and suicide.

“Since January 2019, the ministry has received reports of 93 deaths of migrant workers in the Gulf region,” Tum told the committee.

But nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi, a member of the committee, disputed the figures saying the numbers downplay the real problem facing Kenyans in the Gulf region.

Osotsi demanded that the ministry gives a comprehensive response detailing all cases of deaths of Kenyans in the region.

“The responses are misleading to the Committee, in one year alone, we have 20 cases from Vihiga County alone,” he said.

He further questioned the recruitment process, saying hiring agencies are to blame for the inhumane treatment Kenyans are facing in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations.