President William Ruto has defended Kenya’s labour migration policy, highlighting its role in creating jobs for Kenyan workers and driving economic growth, even as public concern over worker abuse abroad intensifies.
Speaking on Monday, November 17, at the opening of the 14th International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (IARMJ) World Conference in Nairobi, Ruto outlined the government’s efforts to expand bilateral labour agreements and open more employment opportunities overseas.
He highlighted recent deals with Germany and Austria and ongoing negotiations with Qatar as examples of Kenya’s push for “positive, orderly migration.”
Ruto revealed that in the past two years, about 430,000 Kenyans have secured jobs abroad, boosting diaspora remittances by an additional one billion dollars, funds that are now helping to fund development projects back home.
“We have migration in a positive sense. As a result of more Kenyans working abroad, we received a billion dollars more in diaspora remittances, and we are using it to build our country,” he said.
He acknowledged that labour migration carries risks but emphasized that the benefits are significant when managed effectively. He also stressed the importance of skills transfer and technology exchange to support Kenya’s ongoing development projects.
Ruto highlighted the government’s decision to scrap visa requirements for all African citizens, noting that this move promotes the free movement of people, exchange of ideas, and regional innovation.
“We made a policy decision as a country to eliminate visa requirements for people coming from our continent, that is in Africa, to facilitate greater movement of people,” he said.
His remarks come amid increased scrutiny of overseas work programs. A New York Times investigation recently exposed widespread abuse of Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia, prompting national debate. At the same time, a new minimum-wage policy in Saudi Arabia will raise pay for Kenyans starting February 2026, with the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh urging workers to verify salary adjustments and report violations.
The government also warned about criminal networks offering fake jobs, luring some Kenyans into forced labour, cybercrime, or conflict zones. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi revealed that over 200 Kenyans may have been recruited into the Russian military under false pretences, while others were trafficked to Asia and forced into online scams.
Despite these challenges, Ruto reaffirmed that well-regulated labour migration remains central to Kenya’s economic strategy, promising continued expansion of foreign job opportunities while strengthening protections for workers abroad.
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