Prime Cabinet Secretary(CS) and CS for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi dismissed allegations that President William Ruto and his family are benefiting from the government’s program of exporting labourers seeking employment in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking before the National Assembly on November 19, 2025, Mudavadi denied claims that the government does not engage in human trafficking.

This comes after the New York Times reportedly said senior government officials, including Ruto and his family, are making profits from the export of domestic workers to Saudi Arabia, where they are mistreated.

In addition, this move is supported by a major insurance company that is involved in sending cheap labor abroad.

“Clarify whether any senior government official directly or indirectly owns, controls, or benefits from recruitment, training or insurance companies involved in deploying Kenyan workers to the Gulf,” Naisula Lesuuda, Samburu West MP, stated.

Responding to this statement, Mudavadi dismissed the reports, stating that no single insurance company can be granted a chance to handle Kenyans seeking jobs abroad.

“We do not engage in any human trafficking neither does the President of this country or his government engage in any slave trading,” Mudavadi said.

He added, “No single insurance company has a monopoly covering Kenyans seeking jobs in the Gulf or any other foreign country. As to whether there’s details of family members owned or controlled..we have a list of 594 recruitment agencies and it would take time to go through that detail. But as we speak this Parliament passed the Conflict of Interest bill and if anybody is found to be in conflict, appropriate action will be taken.”

Negotiations With the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Also Read:COTU Sends Urgent Message To Kenyan Workers Abroad

The New York Times Report

The media intervened in this matter after reports emerged that Kenyan mothers and their children in the Gulf nations are stranded.

Most Kenyan mothers encounter legal challenges abroad, which include giving birth outside marriage, which is termed as illegal; therefore, their children are denied birth certificates and essential services like education, medical care, among others.

In response to the report, State Department for Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu said the government created an alternative way for mothers to receive their birth certificates from the Riyadh Embassy.

Also Read:Saudi Arabia’s Sage Healthcare to Host International Health Forum in Nairobi

Ways Kenyan Mothers Can Access Birth Certificates in Gulf

Alternative ways include the Mwanamberi Project, which relies on DNA sampling to establish parentage and secure Kenyan birth certificates

Additionally, a Joint Interdepartmental Working Group with Saudi authorities to facilitate repatriation, and an amnesty for undocumented mothers and children was announced, allowing them to regularise their status or return home without penalty.

According to Njogu, few Kenyan mothers have used the options.

“We urge the single mothers in Saudi Arabia with undocumented children to utilise the pathways already created by the government to regularise their status and procure documentation for their children,” said Njogu.

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Musalia Mudavadi appearing before the National Assembly on November 19, 2025. PHOTO/Mudavadi X