MWE Correspondent
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, [Musalia Mudavadi], has strongly dismissed claims that President William Ruto’s family benefits financially from the government’s labour export scheme to Saudi Arabia.
Speaking before Parliament on Wednesday, Mudavadi addressed allegations stemming from a report by the New York Times, which suggested that senior government officials and the President’s family were linked to companies involved in recruiting, training, and insuring Kenyans seeking domestic work in Gulf countries. The report claimed these officials profit from the system, where many workers face challenging conditions abroad.
Responding to a question from Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda about whether any senior official or relative directly owns or controls recruitment or insurance firms involved in the programme, Mudavadi was emphatic in his denial. “We are not involved in human trafficking, nor does the President or his government participate in any form of exploitation,” he said.
Mudavadi explained that Kenya has 594 licensed recruitment agencies, and investigating ownership across all of them requires time. He highlighted that Parliament has passed the [Conflict of Interest Bill] to ensure that any potential conflicts within the sector are addressed transparently.
He also acknowledged the difficulties many Kenyans face abroad. Since 2023, the government has received over 3,400 distress cases, with about 350,000 Kenyans now working in Saudi Arabia alone. To strengthen support, Kenya recently opened a consulate in Jeddah and is planning to establish a safe house for workers in need.
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On regulatory measures, Mudavadi noted that recruitment agencies are vetted by a multi-agency committee, which examines their management, capital, and operational compliance. He emphasized ongoing reforms, including the implementation of the [Wage Protection System] in Saudi Arabia, ensuring that domestic workers are paid through official channels, enhancing accountability and worker protection.
He further revealed that over 600 recruitment agencies have been shut down for malpractice, and more than 500 Kenyans — including mothers and children — have been safely repatriated since 2022. Mudavadi’s message was clear: the government is committed to protecting Kenyans abroad, not profiting from them.
This statement aims to reassure the public that the labour export programme is being managed responsibly, balancing opportunities for overseas work with protections against exploitation and abuse.
