The government, through the Ministry of Labour, has announced that Kenyans who give birth in foreign countries will be required to undergo mandatory DNA tests upon arrival in the country.
Speaking before the Senate plenary on Wednesday, March 5, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua stated that the DNA tests would be conducted to curb the rising cases of child trafficking.
According to Mutua, once a Kenyan arrives in the country, a mandatory DNA test will be conducted at the point of entry to confirm the child’s biological mother.
"We've got several Kenyans in some countries who have given birth. We are trying to get them back home with their children. Once they're here, we'll do a DNA test to match the child to the mother to avoid child trafficking," Mutua announced.
To address challenges facing Kenyans who work abroad, the Labour Minister disclosed that the government had provided distress reporting tools for Kenyans to convey their grievances.
Mutua revealed that tools, including phone numbers available on the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labour websites, had been put in place to assist Kenyans in distress while abroad.
"If you have any distress, you call this number," the Labour Minister stated.
Addressing the plenary, Mutua also cautioned Kenyans travelling abroad against engaging in activism while in foreign countries, warning that such actions could land them in trouble.
"We are forming a system with attitude training to teach our young people, who have grown up in an activist system. So that we train them to leave their activism at home, they go there and follow the system," the Labour CS cautioned.
However, Mutua's remarks labelling some Kenyans as activists did not sit well with a section of senators, including Kitui Senator Enock Wambua, who accused the CS of profiling Kenyan workers.
"When the CS was told to respond to the questions, he profiled Kenyans as big-headed activists and people who take demonstrations abroad. Is that the appreciation of the ministry of the calibre of Kenyans that we send for jobs abroad?" Wambua questioned.
During the proceedings, Mutua also came under strong criticism from the Senators for allegedly refuting claims that no Kenyan died while working abroad.
In particular, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi accused the labour CS for allegedly misleading the Senate that no Kenyan died while working abroad. According to Osotsi, despite several media reports on the death of a Kenyan in Saudi Arabia, the government has yet to take any action.
