This archive report was first published on 8 October 2019.
On October 8, 2019, the National Assembly of Kenya rejected a report on the welfare of Kenyan immigrants working in Saudi Arabia.
The report, prepared by the National Assembly Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, was met with criticism from members of parliament who accused the committee of failing to establish the real problems faced by Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia.
During a heated debate, MPs expressed concerns that the report failed to provide guidelines on how Kenya protects its citizens in Saudi Arabia, and that it did not indicate the number of Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia, those languishing in jails, or those who had returned home dead or alive.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa questioned the report's findings, saying that it did not provide data on the number of unregistered agencies that facilitated the employment of Kenyans in Saudi Arabia, and that it did not specify job descriptions for Kenyan workers.
Siaya Woman Representative Christine Ombaka expressed concerns about the treatment of Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia, saying that the report did not capture personal stories and experiences of Kenyans working in the country.
Kisumu Woman Rep. Rosa Buyu urged the government to protect its citizens, saying that the report was full of glossy measures but failed to address the real problems faced by Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia.
It is estimated that there are 55,000 Kenyan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, with Sudan, Pakistan, Egypt, and Afghanistan having the highest number of migrant workers in the country.
