In a recent Senate session, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka raised alarm over the growing number of Kenyan citizens who have either gone missing or died under suspicious circumstances in Middle Eastern countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Qatar.
Onyonka cited the troubling case of Edi Mosomi Nyasing’a from Kisii County, whose body has not been located following her reported death in Lebanon four weeks ago. He called on the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations to compile a comprehensive report detailing all cases of missing Kenyans in these regions.
“I would like the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations to Provide details of all reported cases of missing Kenyans who have either gotten killed in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon and any other countries within the Arab region, so that we can know who amongst these Kenyans is still alive and who has not been found,” said Onyonka.
The senator reiterated the need for transparency concerning bilateral labour agreements between Kenya and Gulf nations, questioning their effectiveness in protecting the rights of Kenyan workers abroad. He advocated for a critical assessment of the existing protocols at Kenyan embassies designed to address grievances and distress calls from citizens working overseas.
Onyonka’s concerns were echoed by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, who urged Kenyans to familiarize themselves with the laws and rights in their host countries. Cheruiyot also noted the role of foreign remittances in Kenya’s economy, asserting that the well-being of Kenyans abroad must remain a priority.
“We only get to know about those whose families report that their sons or daughters have either been harmed or have lost their lives, Probably, there might be others who disappear never to return to this country, it is the intention of how good countries take care of their citizens when they go to work out of station,” said Cheruiyot.
He suggested the involvement of Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Welfare Alfred Mutua to discuss initiatives aimed at safeguarding the rights of Kenyan workers in diverse international locations. Additionally, Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey and Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga contributed to the discourse, advocating for rigorous investigations into recruitment agencies and the enforcement of regulations to prevent worker exploitation.
Oginga specifically emphasized the troubling possibility of international human trafficking networks being involved, calling for enhanced governmental oversight to ensure the safety of Kenyan citizens abroad.
