Below is a TRANSCRIPT from Dr. Mutua after his visit in Saudi Arabia
VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA BY CABINET SECRETARY DR. ALFRED NGANGA MUTUA, E.G.H FROM 2ND TO 3RD NOVEMBER, 2022
STATEMENT
I have spent two days in Saudi Arabia on an official tour. I have held several meetings. I have met Senior Saudi Government officials - my counterpart - the Minister of Foreign Affairs His Highness Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud and also a strong team of the Ministry of Labour, led by Vice Minister of Labour H.E Dr. Abdullah Nasser Abuthnain.
I have also met and spent hours listening to Kenyans living and working in Saudi Arabia. I have also had the pleasure of meeting young babies of our Kenyan mothers.
My meetings with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Government have centered on our bilateral issues based on the great relationship we have with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We have agreed to work together as a team as we push our international agendas. We have requested the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as we tackle the drought situation facing our country due to the effects of climate change.
With His Highness Faisal, we have agreed to enhance our trade and investment and expansion of our tourism sectors. This will create more employment opportunities and increasing the amount of money in the pockets of our people.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia views Kenya as one of its top partners and likewise we view Saudi Arabia as one of major partners.
We have also engaged comprehensively on the issues facing Kenyan workers.
On the issue of immigrant Labour, we have come up with concrete proposals that will make it easier and better for Kenyans to relate and work in Saudi Arabia where they are in high demand.
Listening to the victims, agents, Kenya Government officials and Saudi Government officials, it is clear that the problems facing some our people start back home in Kenya. The system is flawed and corrupt and unless it’s fixed, nothing will change. There is massive corruption in the way Kenyans are prepared before they leave to be domestic workers in Saudi Arabia and follow up of Kenyans when they arrive. This is a major concern to all of us, including the Government of Saudi Arabia.
We have to break the cartels and streamline the agencies, some of which are owned by prominent Kenyans. We have agreed to work on a modality to get Kenyan Labour agencies to have offices in Saudi Arabia to deal with issues concerning their clients.
We will, in collaboration with the Saudi Government, flush out illegal agencies and also black list agencies that do not perform as per the law. The rights of all workers, as enshrined by the laws of Saudi Arabia and Kenya will be enforced. We have also agreed to ensure compliance by agents and others when it comes to provision of healthcare to Kenyans, including those who are in the country illegally.
To this end, as an immediate short term venture, we’ll be issuing new procedures which will have to be followed before we grant clearance for any Kenyan to travel as a domestic worker to any country. Kenyan immigration officers will also not allow Kenyans to travel out of the country as domestic workers without fulfilling the set requirements starting on Monday, 7th November, 2022.
We have set up a joint Technical Team of Kenya and Saudi Arabia Government officials to fast-track Labour issues including the issue of exit visas. They start their work two weeks from today on November 17th, 2022.
We have dedicated an emergency hotline for Kenyans in Saudi Arabia to call when facing any difficulties. The emergency hotline number at the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh is +966500755060. On receiving a call, we will take prompt action, including but not limited to engaging the Saudi Government for their assistance: the idea is to ensure every Kenyan works and lives a fulfilling life.
I have requested for an Amnesty to be granted to Kenyans who have fallen out of status and are residing here illegally, those who are unable to access medical care so that their documents can be legalized and others given passage to return home.
The Kenyan Government is also dispatching additional staff to the Riyadh Embassy to assist in the process of legalizing Kenyans who are out of status and processing traveling documents and other necessary work.
Saudi Arabia has great potential and is a major market for our workers especially trained ones. Kenyans who already working in this country more so in the formal sectors are doing extremely well and have no issues. They are minting money. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishes to get more Kenyans employed in their country and we will play our part as a Government to ensure that more Kenyans can work and earn well working in Saudi Arabia.
We have requested for an increase of quotas to allow trained Kenyans in all fields to get jobs in Saudi Arabia. Our University and other tertiary level graduates now have an even bigger opportunity to get jobs here and the larger Middle East. We have also requested for a review upwards on the packages and salaries offered to Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia.
I wish to thank Kenyans who came out to meet and greet as we shared ideas. I wish to assure all Kenyans that we are there for
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