Foreign Affairs and Diaspora CS Nominee Alfred Mutua Vows to Travel to the Gulf to Rescue Detained Kenyans

Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Cabinet Secretary nominee Alfred Mutua has expressed his commitment to addressing the issues affecting Kenyans abroad. 

Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments on Monday, Mutua said his first foreign trip, if his nomination is approved, will be to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East to look into the plight of Kenyan migrant workers and rescue those held in detention centres.

Mutua said this is part of his plans to ensure that the welfare of Kenyans living and working abroad is taken care of, adding that it is unfortunate that Kenyans are dying and being mistreated as they seek greener pastures in the Gulf.

"I know there are countries where Kenyans have been detained and tortured like prisoners. Those cases have been taken lightly but I will address them in the most appropriate manner even if I will personally go there to defend the rights of Kenyans.," he said.

"A Kenyan is a Kenyan, it does not matter what they have done, some are being tortured like prisoners as if they don't have their own places. We have already brought back a few and we want to bring back more."

Additionally, the nominee pledged to work closely with the Labor Ministry to put up proper systems for tracking the process right from recruitment, monitoring where the workers are deployed, and following up on their wellbeing.

“I have looked at the matter and all I see is a systematic failure. The Kingdom and government of Saudi Arabia is a friendly country, they have an embassy here and we have an embassy there. They are not involved in this but there is a problem and it must be addressed,” he said.

He indicated that at least 85 Kenyan girls working as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia have lost their lives in the last three months, and hundreds of others repatriated.

“These are Kenyans and their deaths cannot be in vain, I will work with the Saudi embassy to allow our DCI to go to Saudi Arabia with me so that their deaths are investigated, and to bring to book those involved. We need to send a message that no Kenyan goes to work overseas and ends up dead, I will lead from the front,” he added.

Mutua, who served as the governor of Machakos County for two terms, told the vetting panel that he is worth Sh420 million, inclusive of assets in the hospitality sector and rental business.

“I am approximately worth Sh420mn as I have businesses which include hotels, rentals and few businesses here and there,” he stated.

But Minority Whip Junet Mohammed questioned his actual wealth, saying he cannot be worth Sh420 million yet he admitted to owning A&L Hotel based in Machakos Town.

“I know every want to be regarded as poor because of the hustler’s notion but you can’t be worth Sh420 million if you indeed own the hotel,” he stated.

In response, Mutua said the hotel cannot be included as part of his wealth currently due to an outstanding loan.

 “The A&L hotel is on loan and therefore I can’t be able to attribute it as part of my net worth. Once it’s out of loan I will be able to sum it up to my net worth,” Mutua said.