Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has warned that Kenyans seeking work abroad face increasing risks of exploitation in several regions. In a report submitted on May 7 to the Senate Standing Committee on Labour Migration, he detailed cases involving trafficking and forced labor in Asia, Russia, the Gulf, and North Africa.
Musalia Mudavadi, who also serves as Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, submitted the report highlighting a marked escalation in fraudulent recruitment and labour exploitation. He pointed to transnational networks that use social media and digital platforms to lure victims, often through fake job adverts and tourist visa abuse.
The report identified Southeast Asia as a high-risk zone, including Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and India. It noted that over 751 Kenyans were rescued from exploitation in Myanmar between 2022 and 2026, while 393 were rescued in Cambodia from January to April 2026. Kenyan women in India have been trafficked under promises of hospitality or beauty jobs but face sexual exploitation and debt bondage.
Russia was flagged for misleading Kenyans into joining the Ukraine conflict, with 252 documented cases of enlistment in Russian special forces, 47 repatriations, and 10 reported deaths. Gulf countries such as Qatar and Dubai were cited for rogue recruitment networks and weak oversight, while North Africa serves as a route for irregular migration to Europe via Sudan, Libya, and other nations.
Mudavadi urged Kenyans to verify recruitment agencies through the National Employment Authority website. The Ministry of Labour has suspended more than 600 non-compliant agencies. The report targets young, underemployed individuals, women, and ex-servicemen as particularly vulnerable.
