Report Reveals Ruto Administration Put Kenyans in Saudi Arabia at Risk as It Pursued Remittances and Profit

Abuse has been common for Kenyans sent to the wrong employers, but the finding that the government played a role in creating the danger marks a troubling new turn. A New York Times investigation found that President William Ruto’s administration weakened worker protections and promoted mass labor migration to the Middle East while political insiders, including his family members, profited from the same industry accused of endangering Kenyan workers.

The report shows how Kenya built a remittance-driven labor system that places thousands of women in risky jobs across Saudi Arabia. Officials ignored clear warnings and rolled back safeguards meant to protect workers. The findings raise urgent questions about the state’s role in a crisis marked by beatings, confinement, sexual violence, and unexplained deaths.

Rising Abuse and Fear Among Kenyan Workers

Many Kenyan women who travel to Saudi Arabia describe harsh conditions. Some say employers seized their passports and locked them indoors for long periods. Others report physical assaults linked to minor mistakes. Survivors often speak of hunger, threats, and constant fear.

Several families learned of a death only when sealed coffins arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Many could not get a clear explanation of what happened.

A mother who traveled in 2021 recalled confusion during her first week abroad. She did not know Arabic and did not know how to use home appliances. Her employer threatened to beat her after she misunderstood instructions. Her cesarean-section scar later reopened as she worked. Activists stepped in to help her return home for treatment.

Other cases show even deeper distress. Some women with newborns said they could not leave the country because the children lacked the required documents. Others ended up homeless. Many waited for help that never came.

Weak Rules and Poor Training

Kenya reduced its training program even as abuse reports grew. Some trainees said they never learned basic Arabic. Others said they never understood their rights. Parliament debated better rules, yet the government later withdrew a bill that would have strengthened oversight and punished recruiters who broke the law.

Training centers often lacked working equipment. A simulated Saudi home in Mombasa had brand new appliances still in boxes when journalists visited. Workers left Kenya without key skills or safety knowledge. Recruiters continued to market them as cheap and easy to manage.

Political Interests in the Recruitment Industry

The New York Times found deep links between the state and the recruitment industry. At least one in ten staffing companies is owned by current or former politicians. Many of those owners have ties to the ruling coalition. Some companies even operate from government buildings.

Licensing rules favor insiders. That reality created an industry shaped by political power. Many legislators also sought foreign job slots to give to their supporters. The slots helped them build influence in their home regions.

Cabinet officials took part in this system. Labor Secretary Alfred Mutua allocated jobs to politicians, who later offered them to constituents. Those links strengthened the ruling coalition and turned foreign jobs into political rewards.

First Family Stake in a Key Insurance Firm

The Times report also revealed ties between the First Family and Africa Merchant Assurance. Corporate records show that President Ruto’s wife and daughter hold major shares in the firm. Recruiters must buy insurance from companies like Africa Merchant to cover emergencies.

Industry leaders told reporters that Africa Merchant Assurance never paid a single rescue claim for a distressed worker. That left many victims with no help when they faced danger abroad.

Damning Revelations From the NYT Investigation

The findings paint a stark picture of Kenya’s migrant labor system. These ten revelations stand out:

1. The government increased labor exports even after years of documented abuse and deaths in Saudi Arabia.
2. Ruto’s administration weakened worker protections and cut training time.
3. The state promoted Kenyans as the cheapest labor in the Gulf.
4. The First Lady and the President’s daughter hold major shares in a key insurance company tied to worker deployments.
5. Recruiters said the insurance company connected to the First Family never paid rescue claims.
6. Politicians linked to Ruto own many recruitment firms.
7. Senior officials blamed Kenyan women for their own abuse.
8. Private recruiters operate inside government buildings.
9. Overseas jobs serve as political favors given by officials to loyal legislators.
10. The administration ignored watchdog evidence that weak training and oversight increased the likelihood of abuse.

Government Response

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi rejected the claims raised in the New York Times report. Addressing lawmakers on November 19, he said allegations that the administration allowed or benefited from abuse abroad were inaccurate.

“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 said, according to local media reports. “Our commitment remains unwavering to shield our citizens, expand their opportunities, and elevate Kenya’s global footprint with dignity and resolve.”

Mudavadi told Parliament that the administration had taken “bold, deliberate, and forward-looking steps” to protect Kenyans working overseas. He said the government remained focused on expanding safe and regulated pathways for migrant labor.

A System Built on Risk

Kenya continues to push labor migration as a national strategy. Many young people feel they have few options at home. They chase better wages abroad even when the risks are clear.

The New York Times investigation shows how policy choices, political interests, and private profit shaped a system that leaves the most vulnerable workers unprotected. Kenyan families call for stronger safeguards. Advocacy groups demand independent oversight and better diplomacy with Saudi Arabia. 

The findings mark a critical moment for a country that depends on diaspora labor.