Alfred Mutua, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, met with representatives of employment agencies that recruit Kenyans for jobs in Saudi Arabia and other regions to assess the gravity of the situation.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 31, he stated that the goal of the talks was to find possible solutions to the plight of Kenyans in the Diaspora.
He went on to say that the meeting highlighted various stories from the blame game that had been aired on various media channels.
“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 cry for help.”
“My mission was to understand the issues so that as a government we can ensure that Kenyans in the Diaspora are safe and sound. The information gathered paints a different story from the blame-game trending in the media channels,” he stated.
As a result, Mutua stated that he would travel to Saudi Arabia this week to meet with authorities and the Kenyan Diaspora in order to implement long-term solutions to the challenges faced by Kenyan workers.
Mutua noted that the government was committed to ensuring the safety of Kenyans in the Diaspora as well as finding competent solutions for both parties.
“I will be travelling to Saudi Arabia this week to meet the authorities and Kenyan Diaspora with a view to gathering more information that will enable me to institute long-lasting solutions to the challenges faced by Kenyan workers.
“As a government, we’ll do everything possible to get to the bottom of this matter. We must keep our citizens working outside the country safe and sound.”
“The government will also facilitate the recruitment agencies to conduct their business successfully for the benefit of Kenyans,” he stated.
Workers in the Gulf have previously used social media to air their grievances, causing an uproar in the state to which they are subjected by their employers.
As a result, some of the workers have been rescued, while others continue to plead with the government.
