The Government has raised alarm over escalating insecurity in the Middle East, warning that the lives and livelihoods of nearly half a million Kenyans in the region could be at risk.
Detailing her report before the Lydia Haika-led Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee, the PS for the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, outlined mounting concerns stemming from renewed hostilities between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel, as well as growing cases of Kenyans in distress in Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation.
PS Njogu painted a sobering picture of the regional security climate before the MPs.
“The Middle East is currently experiencing heightened tensions and instability arising from ongoing military exchanges and air strikes involving regional actors, namely the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel,” PS Njogu said.
She added, “The escalation has increased security concerns across the Gulf region, leading to heightened alert levels, airspace disruptions, and precautionary security measures by several governments in the Gulf, especially after Iran bombed US military bases in neighbouring countries.”
In her report, the PS said that the department estimates approximately 500,000 Kenyans reside and work across the Gulf and the surrounding Middle East region.
According to the PS’s report, the largest concentration is in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with 300,000 nationals, followed by the State of Qatar with 70,000 and the United Arab Emirates with 60,000. Others are in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, Iran, and Israel.
While no evacuation has been announced, the Government says it is closely monitoring the situation.
“While the situation remains fluid, there are growing concerns about the safety and welfare of foreign nationals, including migrant workers, in affected and neighbouring countries,” Njogu said.
To respond to the evolving crisis, the PS said that the ministry has established a multi-agency steering committee bringing together Kenya’s ambassadors in the affected states. Travel advisories have been issued, emergency communication channels activated, and diaspora members urged to register through the Diaspora Integrated Information Management System (DIIMS) portal for real-time tracking and coordinated response.
Beyond the regional crisis, lawmakers pressed PS Njogu over the controversial death and burial of Jesca Kashutu Ziro in Saudi Arabia.
Addressing the matter, Njogu reaffirmed the official procedure governing the death of a Kenyan abroad.
“When a Kenyan dies in a foreign country, the family can either decide to grant consent for their loved one to be interred in the host country, or request repatriation of the mortal remains back home for interment,” Njogu affirmed.
She told the MPs that burial without consultation in that state violates diplomatic norms.
“In a situation where a Kenyan is buried abroad without the consent of the family or the Embassy, it is considered a violation of standard diplomatic practice, which requires that foreign missions be notified and issue authority, after consultations with the family, before the burial of their nationals.”
Ziro, who had returned to Saudi Arabia for a second domestic work contract in February 2025, reportedly fell ill while awaiting reassignment after leaving her employer. She was rushed to a hospital in Riyadh after collapsing and was later pronounced dead.
“The cause of death was certified by the attending physician, Dr. Wael Abbas Omar Alatabani, as cardiopulmonary arrest.”
Her burial, however, was conducted without family consent. The Ministry explained that Saudi regulations introduced in 2025 allow preservation of bodies for only 14 days before burial, complicating repatriation efforts.
On the exhumation process, Njogu told the MPs that it involves approvals from multiple Saudi authorities, court orders, health certifications, DNA identification, and endorsement by civil authorities, at a cost of approximately Sh2.5 million per case.
Four Kenyan bodies have already been exhumed and repatriated at government expense. Four others, including Ms. Ziro’s, are awaiting identification of burial sites before the process can proceed.
On compensation, the Department clarified that eligibility under Saudi law depends on the cause of death, stating, “The cause of death for Ms. Jesca Ziro was certified as cardiopulmonary arrest and therefore does not fall under the above-listed categories.”
In a separate but equally troubling development, the Department revealed that dozens of Kenyans have been caught up in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Since then, allegations have emerged that foreign nationals, including Africans, have been recruited into Russian military operations, sometimes under deceptive circumstances.
As of February 2026, 27 Kenyans have been repatriated from Russia, while five have been reported dead. The Department has received 203 distress cases and estimates that more than 200 Kenyans may have joined Russian forces.
The PS said that recruitment tactics reportedly include false promises of lucrative civilian jobs, educational opportunities, or non-combat roles. Many are allegedly deployed to frontline combat zones after brief training.
“Many of the affected recruits, often young and economically vulnerable individuals, including ex-Kenyan military officers, appear to have been exploited under conditions resembling human trafficking or forced labor.”
The Government has responded by deregistering over 600 unlicensed recruitment agencies, tightening immigration checks, launching public awareness campaigns, and pursuing prosecution of rogue agents.
Despite the crisis, the PS said that Kenya currently has no signed bilateral labour agreement with Russia, adding that draft Memoranda of Understanding are under review ahead of a planned visit to Moscow by Musalia Mudavadi.
Njogu stressed that any future agreement must prioritize worker protection.
“Protection of Kenyan nationals remains paramount. Any bilateral framework must prioritize ethical recruitment, transparency, accountability, and comprehensive worker protection mechanisms,” she said, adding, “The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs is keen to ensure the welfare, rights, and interests of Kenyans abroad are protected and will continue to employ all necessary measures to guarantee their safety and wellbeing.”
With tensions simmering in the Gulf and recruitment networks exploiting vulnerable job seekers, the Government now faces a complex diplomatic and humanitarian balancing act — safeguarding citizens abroad while navigating volatile geopolitical terrain.
