Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS Mutua Meets Employment Agents over Welfare of Kenyans Working Abroad

Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua on Monday met representatives of employment agencies ahead of his visit to Saudia Arabia later this week.

Mutua said the meeting was aimed at understanding their issues as part of the efforts to ensure Kenyans living and working abroad are safe and sound.

"I have today held a meeting with representatives of employment agents who recruit Kenyans for jobs in Saudi Arabia and other regions. The meeting was informative with complex mind-boggling revelations and a deep cry for help in many instances,” said Mutua.

He added: "The information gathered paints a different story from the blame-game trending in the media channels. We want to move to a point where we get to the root cause of the challenges that Kenyans face while working with governments and states that are offering opportunities for our people.”

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Mutua said he will meet authorities and Kenyans in the diaspora with a view to gathering more information that will enable the government to institute long-lasting solutions to the challenges faced by Kenyan migrant workers.

“As a government, we will do everything possible to get to the bottom of this matter. We must keep our citizens working outside the country safe and sound,” he said.

He also pledged that the government will facilitate the recruitment agencies to be able to conduct their business successfully for the benefit of Kenyans.

Mutua, who assumed office last Friday, promised to advance the interests of Kenyans at home and protect the welfare of those living abroad.

“We want to protect the interest and lives of every Kenyan — those at home and those who go abroad — who are our primary responsibility. We will ensure that any Kenyan in the diaspora knows that this ministry and country cares about them,” he said. “We will be implementing various measures to improve the lives and welfare of our citizens who travel abroad.”