Kirinyaga Women Representative Njeri Maina has raised concern over the plight of Kenyan citizens working in Saudi Arabia, claiming that many are enduring poor working conditions, passport confiscation, and limited access to consular support.

Speaking in a statement shared on her X account on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, Maina questioned the effectiveness of Kenyan consulates, accusing them of failing to respond promptly to distress calls from stranded workers despite being funded by taxpayers.

She claimed that many Kenyans abroad are left struggling without timely support, even as diplomatic offices continue operating under public funding meant to safeguard citizens’ interests.

“They continue to enjoy taxpayers’ money with no regard for the work they’re actually supposed to be doing. Their contact information barely goes through, they respond to emails 10 years later,” she said.

Maina further argued that the situation raises serious questions about whether Kenya’s foreign missions understand their core responsibility of protecting citizens living and working abroad.

“It is either they do not understand that they are expected to advance and protect the interests of Kenyans, or they simply don’t care at all,” she added.

Her remarks add to growing public concern over the welfare of Kenyan migrant workers, particularly in the Gulf region, where cases of exploitation, delayed interventions, and weak consular support have repeatedly been reported.

Embassies under scrutiny over staff and service delivery

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has also previously raised concerns over collapsing support systems within Kenya’s diplomatic missions abroad, warning that embassy staff are themselves struggling with delayed salaries and operational challenges.

He said such conditions risk undermining Kenya’s ability to effectively protect its citizens overseas, calling for urgent reforms within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“If this is the state of our missions abroad, what is happening within the Ministry itself?” he posed.

Kenyans abroad left in distress amid weak response systems

Ledama warned that continued dysfunction in foreign missions risks exposing more Kenyans abroad to exploitation and delayed rescue interventions, especially in high-risk labour destinations.

He urged urgent reforms to strengthen Kenya’s consular services, insisting that diplomatic offices must be adequately resourced and held accountable for protecting citizens.

Pressure is now mounting on the government to improve response mechanisms for migrant workers, as concerns grow over whether existing structures are sufficient to safeguard Kenyans living abroad.