The Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare pressed the government on Thursday to address increased incidences of human trafficking, fraudulent labour recruiting, and the growing number of Kenyans involved in overseas wars and cybercrime activities.
Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi spoke before the Committee about a growing issue impacting Kenyan workers in the Gulf, South-East Asia, and portions of Europe.
Mudavadi said that trafficking syndicates have become more organized and sophisticated, notably in the “Golden Triangle” region of Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.
Hundreds of Kenyans Rescued Across Asia
According Mudavadi, 751 Kenyans were rescued from Myanmar between 2022 and 2026, with 615 already repatriated.
However, 39 Kenyans remain jailed over illegal entry and cybercrime offences, while another 97 are being held in immigration detention centres in Thailand awaiting deportation.
The Committee also heard that Cambodia rescued 406 Kenyans between January and April this year, with 305 already returned home. In Laos, 29 Kenyans have been repatriated, while 14 Kenyans are imprisoned in Thailand over forged immigration stamps allegedly supplied by traffickers.
Mudavadi also confirmed deaths linked to the scam compounds operating in the region.
“Over time, three Kenyans have reportedly lost their lives in the scam compounds due to illness, while one expectant lady passed on after the scammers attempted to forcefully terminate the pregnancy,” Mudavadi said.
Qatar and Russian Recruitment Raise Alarm
Concerns also emerged about labor trafficking to the Middle East. Mudavadi said that 162 Kenyans had been shipped to Qatar by “unscrupulous individuals” acting in both Kenya and Qatar.
The committee also questioned the administration about Kenyans recruited into Russian special forces during the Ukraine war.
Mudavadi said the government had documented 291 reported cases involving Kenyans in Russia and had already repatriated 53 citizens. Nineteen kenyans are believed to have died, 32 are missing in action, while two are currently being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.
He revealed that a Kenyan delegation which travelled to Moscow in March secured commitments from Russian authorities to stop further recruitment of Kenyans into military operations.
“One, that there should be no more enlisting of Kenyans to the special military forces of the Russian Federation,” Mudavadi said.
The government is also seeking consular access for Kenyans in hospitals and civilian facilities and pushing for the inclusion of Kenyan nationals in future prisoner exchange programmes between Russia and Ukraine.
Senators Question Government Enforcement
Senators questioned whether government enforcement efforts were sufficient.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu told the Committee that 87 prosecutions linked to trafficking and illegal labour recruitment were ongoing.
Meanwhile, Nominated Senator Crystal Asige raised concerns over the slow pace of bilateral labour agreements, while Okong’o Mogeni called for existing agreements to be tabled before the Committee within seven days.
By the end of the session, Senators agreed that the trafficking crisis reflected growing economic pressure at home, with many young Kenyans increasingly risking exploitation abroad in search of employment opportunities.
