RIYADH — Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting citizens living and working abroad while strengthening the diaspora’s role in national economic development, senior officials said on Sunday.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi made the remarks in Riyadh after co-chairing the first Kenya–Saudi Arabia political consultations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
Mudavadi said the government was prioritizing safe, regular and legal labour migration pathways, while also improving protection for Kenyans abroad facing workplace and legal challenges.
He described the Kenyan diaspora as a “strategic investment partner,” noting that government policy is shifting beyond remittances to encourage investment in sectors such as housing, healthcare, education, technology, renewable energy and the digital economy.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu said Kenya was expanding consular services and had established a 24-hour emergency response centre to assist citizens in distress abroad.
She also urged Kenyans seeking overseas employment to avoid unlicensed recruitment agencies, warning that irregular migration channels increase the risk of exploitation.
The meeting included an interactive forum where Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia raised concerns and proposals aimed at improving consular support and labour conditions.
Officials said such engagements help strengthen trust between citizens abroad and the government while improving service delivery and policy responses.
The Riyadh consultations were attended by senior Kenyan officials, including Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and other diplomatic and trade representatives.
