The Kenyan government has announced new measures aimed at strengthening the protection of its citizens living and working in Saudi Arabia, amid growing concerns over the safety and welfare of migrant workers.
The initiative involves the rollout of a 24-hour toll-free emergency hotline, 8001000352, by the Kenya Consulate in Jeddah, aimed at providing immediate consular support to Kenyans in distress across the Gulf state.
According to the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the hotline will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing citizens to access help during emergencies such as labour disputes, arrest, abuse, health crises, or loss of travel documents.
The move forms part of wider reforms intended to strengthen consular responsiveness, especially in countries hosting large populations of Kenyan migrant workers.
Saudi Arabia hosts tens of thousands of Kenyans, the majority working in domestic service, construction, hospitality and security roles.
Over the years, cases of mistreatment, unpaid wages, contract violations, and restricted movement have been reported, prompting repeated calls for stronger diplomatic intervention and faster response mechanisms.
The hotline is also expected to assist Kenyans who are undocumented, stranded, or seeking repatriation due to medical, legal, or humanitarian reasons.
The measures align with Kenya’s bilateral labour agreements with Saudi Arabia, which outline protections for workers, including access to justice, humane working conditions, and regulated recruitment processes.
The launch of the 24-hour toll-free emergency hotline by the Kenya Consulate in Jeddah comes months after Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa highlighted the plight of a Kenyan mother from Vihiga County who was stranded for years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with her eight-year-old.
“Her situation is heartbreaking. She either leaves without her daughter or remains stranded indefinitely in Saudi Arabia,” Senator wa Thang’wa said.
In 2023, the government launched the Mwanamberi Project as the initial measures to ensure the safety and protection of mothers with children amid Saudi Arabia’s strict local laws that frown upon childbirth outside wedlock.
Kenyans in Saudi Arabia are encouraged to share the hotline details widely within their communities to ensure quick access to help during emergencies.
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