Mudavadi sounds alarm as Kenyans trafficked into war zones, cybercrime and sex slavery abroad
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has raised fresh alarm over what he describes as a rapidly expanding international trafficking and labour exploitation crisis targeting Kenyans abroad, revealing that hundreds have already been rescued from dangerous operations linked to organised criminal networks.
In a report submitted on May 7 to the Senate Standing Committee on Labour Migration, Recruitment and Worker Protection, Mudavadi warned that transnational syndicates are increasingly using social media, fake job advertisements, and digital platforms to lure desperate job seekers into exploitation, forced labour, cybercrime, and even armed conflict.
“The Ministry has recorded a marked escalation in fraudulent recruitment and labour exploitation of Kenyan nationals abroad, reflecting a shift toward increasingly organised, transnational, and technology-driven exploitation networks,” Mudavadi stated in the report.
The Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary identified four major global hotspots where Kenyans are most vulnerable: Southeast Asia, Russia, Gulf nations, and North Africa.
Southeast Asia emerges as trafficking hotspot
According to the report, countries including Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and India have become major destinations for trafficking networks preying on Kenyans, particularly young women.
Mudavadi disclosed that many victims are promised lucrative jobs abroad, only to end up trapped in forced sexual exploitation rings or coerced into participating in cybercrime operations.
The report reveals that more than 751 Kenyans have been rescued from exploitation camps in Myanmar between 2022 and 2026.
In Thailand, 97 Kenyans are currently being held in immigration detention centres awaiting deportation, while another 14 have reportedly been jailed for allegedly using forged travel documents.
Cambodia alone recorded 393 rescue cases between January and April 2026, with 304 victims already repatriated to Kenya. Laos has also recorded at least 29 Kenyan repatriations linked to trafficking and exploitation cases.
The report further notes that Kenyan women trafficked to India are frequently deceived with promises of jobs in beauty and hospitality industries before being subjected to debt bondage and sexual exploitation.
Kenyans lured into Russia-Ukraine war
Mudavadi also raised concern over recruitment schemes linked to Russia, where Kenyans are allegedly being misled into joining the ongoing war in Ukraine.
According to the report, some victims are deployed directly to frontline combat zones after being recruited under false promises of employment opportunities.
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has documented 252 cases involving Kenyans enlisted into Russian special forces.
Of those affected, 47 have since been repatriated, while families have reported at least 10 deaths.
The report indicates that former servicemen and individuals with military backgrounds are among the primary targets for recruiters connected to the Russia-linked operations.
Gulf states and North Africa under scrutiny
Mudavadi further warned that rogue labour agencies continue to exploit weak oversight systems in Gulf countries, particularly in Qatar and Dubai, exposing Kenyans to abuse, mistreatment, and illegal working conditions.
The report also highlighted the growing dangers facing Kenyans attempting irregular migration routes through North Africa in pursuit of entry into Europe.
Victims are reportedly trafficked through the Moyale border before being moved across Sudan into Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, and Morocco, where many encounter violence, detention, extortion, and severe human rights abuses.
Mudavadi warned that criminal syndicates are increasingly sophisticated, relying heavily on online deception and corrupt facilitators operating across borders.
“These networks exploit digital platforms to recruit victims, coordinate movement, and evade law enforcement through cross-border collaboration,” the report noted.
The government has since intensified enforcement measures, with the Ministry of Labour suspending more than 600 non-compliant recruitment agencies accused of breaching labour migration regulations.
Mudavadi urged Kenyans seeking overseas employment opportunities to verify agencies through the National Employment Authority (NEA) and avoid offers circulated through unverified online platforms.
He cautioned that underemployed youth, women, minors, and digitally skilled individuals remain the most vulnerable to traffickers targeting desperate job seekers with promises of quick money and overseas opportunities.
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