Sunday, July 5, 2026(RIYADH)___The Government of Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare of its diaspora while building frameworks to support their economic engagement and development abroad.
Speaking in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after co‑chairing inaugural political consultations with His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs H.E. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi underscored the Government’s determination to address labour mobility issues and to protect the rights and dignity of Kenyans working overseas through regular and safe labour mobility pathways.
Dr. Mudavadi said the diaspora should are regarded as vital development partners. While remittances to families at home remain important, the Government has laid groundwork for Kenyans abroad to scale up their economic contribution and transition from “senders of aid” into active, high‑value investors in Kenya’s strategic investment vehicles. He highlighted opportunities for the diaspora across affordable housing, healthcare, education, technology, renewable energy and the digital economy.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary, Ms. Roseline K. Njogu echoed the PCS’s message, stressing that the State Department will serve all Kenyan diaspora members regardless of status. She said the Department’s mandate is rooted in inclusivity and pointed to recent operational expansions, including an expanded consular reach and the introduction of a 24‑hour emergency response centre, which strengthen safety nets for distressed citizens.
Ms. Njogu also urged Kenyans to use official labour mobility channels to avoid exploitation by rogue recruitment agents and to ensure that their rights are protected while working abroad.
The Riyadh forum included an open discourse session in which attendees shared lived experiences, concerns and recommendations. Participants noted that connecting with fellow Kenyans provides vital emotional support and a sense of home away from home, and they described such engagements as important spaces for networking, solidarity and collective problem‑solving.
The engagement was attended by senior officials and private sector representatives, including Dr. Alfred Mutua, Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection; Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation; Amb. Joseph Masila, Kenya’s Envoy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Amb. Isaiya Kabira, Secretary for Diaspora Skills, Investment and Entrepreneurship; and other government and private sector actors.