Kenyan domestic workers living in Saudi Arabia were asked to use TikTok to seek help from the government if they run into challenges.
The statement was made by Principal Secretary (PS) of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs Roseline Njogu on Friday, December 30.
She added that the government was likely to respond quickly to issues raised on the popular social media platform.
A Twitter user had asked the PS to clarify what happens to Kenyans who are locked in houses in Saudi Arabia.
“There are people on TikTok airing their grievances in secret recordings, they cannot reach the Kenyan embassy since they are locked inside mansions,” the user posed.
“If they have access to TikTok, they can also send us direct messages, we can respond faster than tiktokers,” Njogu answered back.
The discourse emerged after Njogu had announced steps the government of President William Ruto had taken to ensure the safety of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.
“We are working to resolve challenges with domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.”
“If you are a distressed Kenyan in Saudi Arabia or your family member is, kindly reach the Kenyan embassy in Riyadh or the diaspora state department on Twitter,” the PS advised.
Once a complaint has been raised through the Twitter handles, the PS assured Kenyans that the government will swing into action to rescue those who are suffering.
Njogu’s statement came weeks after foreign affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua had promised to address the challenges affecting Kenyans working in the Middle Eastern country.
“Listening to Kenyans, agents, Kenya Government officials, and Saudi Government officials, it is clear that the problems facing some our people start back home due to flawed and corrupt systems and we are going to take care of that.”
“I have also requested for an amnesty to be granted to Kenyans who have fallen out of status and are residing in Saudi Arabia illegally and those who are unable to access medical care so that their documents can be legalized and given passage to return home,” the CS announced on November 2.
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs was part of President Ruto’s campaign promise of creating a ministry to take care of Kenyans living in the diaspora.
“The focus on diaspora community has been on remittances, while their fundamental rights as citizens have been neglected,"
"To correct this oversight, I pledge to elevate diaspora issues at a ministry level,” the president promised on September 14.
While the president did not create a diaspora ministry, a state department was established within the ministry of foreign affairs.
