Ruto defends labour migration amid exploitation concerns
By Kenneth Mwenda, November 17, 2025President William Ruto has defended Kenya’s labour migration policy, saying it is creating opportunities for Kenyan workers and boosting the country’s economy despite renewed concerns about abuse and exploitation abroad.
Speaking on Monday, November 17, during the opening of the 14th International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (IARMJ) World Conference in Nairobi, Ruto said the government has expanded bilateral labour agreements to open more jobs for Kenyans.
He singled out recent deals with Germany and Austria and ongoing talks with Qatar as examples of the country’s efforts to support what he called “positive, orderly migration.”
Ruto said that in the last two years, about 430,000 Kenyans have secured jobs outside the country. He added that the rise in labour migration has pushed Kenya’s diaspora remittances up by an extra one billion dollars, money that is helping fund development back home.
“We have migration in a positive sense. As a result of more Kenyans working abroad, we received a billion dollars more in diaspora remittances, and we are using it to build our country,” he said.
Ruto acknowledged that migration comes with risks, but insisted that it also offers strong benefits when managed well. He highlighted the need to focus on skills transfer and technology exchange as Kenya undertakes major development projects.
Ruto also pointed to Kenya’s decision to scrap visa requirements for all African citizens as part of a wider effort to encourage free movement of people across the continent. He said the policy is already helping promote the exchange of ideas, skills and innovation.
“We made a policy decision as a country to eliminate visa requirements for people coming from our continent, that is in Africa, to facilitate greater movement of people.”
Labour migration under spotlight
His remarks come at a time when public scrutiny of overseas work programmes has intensified. A New York Times investigation exposed widespread abuse of Kenyan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, sparking national debate.
At the same time, a new minimum-wage policy in Saudi Arabia is set to raise pay for Kenyans from February 2026. The Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh has urged workers to verify the changes with their employers and report any violations.
The government has also admitted that criminal networks are misleading job-seekers with fake offers, luring some into forced labour, cybercrime or even conflict zones. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi recently revealed that more than 200 Kenyans may have been recruited into the Russian military under false pretences, while others were trafficked to Asia and forced into online scamming.
Despite these concerns, Ruto maintained that well-regulated labour migration remains a central part of Kenya’s economic strategy. He said the government will continue to expand foreign job opportunities while improving systems that protect workers abroad.