Mudavadi Adresses New York Times Article Implicating Ruto’s Family in Slave Trade
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi has dismissed claims linking the Kenya Kwanza government to the exploitation of Kenyan workers abroad.
Speaking before the National Assembly on Wednesday, November 19, Mudavadi categorically refuted media reports suggesting that the administration is implicated in what has been described as a “slave trade.” He reaffirmed that the Kenyan government has instituted robust measures to protect citizens working overseas, describing any contrary claims as “misleading and sensational.”
“It is therefore misleading, careless, and sensational for any media outlet to insinuate that the Government has, at any point, participated in or tolerated slavery or the exploitation of Kenyans pursuing opportunities abroad,” Mudavadi stated. “Our commitment remains unwavering to shield our citizens, expand their opportunities, and elevate Kenya’s global footprint with dignity and resolve.”
The statement comes in response to a recent New York Times investigation that implicated several government officials, as well as members of President William Ruto’s family, in allegedly operating recruitment agencies that send Kenyans to Saudi Arabia without proper safeguards or preparation. The report highlighted the plight of unwed Kenyan mothers in Riyadh, many of whom were reportedly left homeless due to bureaucratic delays at the Kenyan Embassy.
Mudavadi told lawmakers that the government had taken “bold, deliberate, and forward-looking steps” to safeguard Kenyans working abroad. Among these measures, he cited the deregistration of over 600 rogue recruitment agencies and stringent licensing requirements for new agencies, including compulsory insurance cover at no cost to the worker.
He also highlighted the creation of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, a first in Kenya’s history, tasked with championing the rights and welfare of the diaspora community. Since its establishment, remittances from Kenyans abroad have grown significantly—from Ksh490 billion in 2022 to Ksh650 billion in 2024—with a national target of Ksh1 trillion by 2027.
“This demonstrates our commitment not only to protect Kenyans working abroad but also to strengthen our economic footprint globally,” Mudavadi added.
The New York Times report alleged that the labor export system disproportionately benefits agency owners, with some claiming that the President’s wife and daughter are major shareholders in one of the recruitment firms. According to the article, Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia, among the lowest-paid foreign domestic workers, receive minimal support when challenges arise, exacerbating their vulnerability.
Kenya’s minimum wage for domestic workers abroad was recently increased from approximately Ksh31,000 per month to Ksh34,000. Mudavadi explained that while the government is committed to safeguarding fair pay, raising wages too sharply could risk Kenyan jobs being outsourced to other African countries such as Burundi and Ethiopia, which offer cheaper labor.
The debate over the welfare of Kenyans abroad underscores ongoing concerns about the protection and regulation of labor export practices, and the government maintains that all measures are aimed at ensuring dignity, safety, and fair economic returns for its citizens.
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Mudavadi Adresses New York Times Article Implicating Ruto’s Family in Slave Trade