Kenya’s envoy nominees vetted as Parliament probes migrant worker deaths in Saudi Arabia

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Kenya’s nominee for Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr Joseph Musyoka Masila, was on September 4, 2025, questioned by the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations over the continued deaths of Kenyan migrant workers in the Gulf region.

Mr Musyoka, who is currently the Deputy Director at the Middle East Directorate in the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, appeared before the Committee on the second day of the ongoing vetting exercise. The Committee is chaired by Mr Nelson Koech (Belgut).

During the session, Gilgil MP Martha Wangari raised concern over the welfare of Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia.

She said the labour market had brought both opportunities and tragedy.

“In the last five(5) years, we’ve lost almost 300 people, including one(1) just last week,” said Ms Wangari.

“In my constituency, we are bringing home a body from Riyadh. We are not doing enough to protect lives, especially women.”

She asked Mr Musyoka to explain the underlying causes of these deaths and to provide statistics on the current number of Kenyan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Musyoka acknowledged the gravity of the issue, stating that the existing bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia lacked sufficient safeguards.

“This issue of labour has been recurring for a very long time,” he said.

“The previous agreement had deficiencies and did not provide adequate protection standards.”

He pledged to prioritise the signing of a revised Bilateral Labour Agreement. 

“This will be my first priority. The new agreement has solid and robust protections for our people,” he said.

Mr Musyoka also addressed difficulties faced by Kenyans during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

“If approved, I'll work closely with the Consul General in Jeddah to ensure that Hajj is a fulfilling and safe experience for Kenyan pilgrims.”

Ms Torotich pledges to attract investment through diaspora engagement

Ms Jayne Jepkorir Torotich, nominee for appointment as Consul-General to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was the third nominee to appear before the Committee.

Ms Wangari asked what measures she would take to enhance foreign direct investment in Kenya, given Dubai’s status as a global business hub.

“Dubai is very popular with Kenyans for travel and business. Many are investing in Dubai rather than bringing investments back home. How can we increase foreign direct investment to Kenya?” she asked.

In response, Ms Torotich pledged to prioritise economic diplomacy, the efficient delivery of consular services, and deeper engagement with the Kenyan diaspora.

“Dubai presents a significant opportunity for investment and labour mobility. If approved, I will advocate for the full implementation of existing bilateral agreements and work with diaspora investment groups to channel resources into local opportunities such as infrastructure bonds, Public-Private Partnerships, and the upcoming diaspora bond,” she said.

Ms Torotich highlighted her diplomatic experience, including previous postings in Washington, D.C. and New York, where she served as Chargé D’Affaires and Deputy Executive Director.

Mr Afande vows to leverage Austria’s high-tech economy

Also appearing before the Committee was Mr Edwin Afande, nominee for Ambassador to Vienna, Austria.

He is currently the Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Members noted that the Vienna mission is accredited to several other countries, including Hungary and Ukraine.

The Committee raised concerns that ambassadors previously posted to Vienna had cited budgetary constraints that hindered effective representation.

Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana asked, “With your diplomatic experience, what skills will you employ to effectively represent Kenya across multiple countries under your accreditation?”

In response, Mr Afande outlined a broad focus on economic cooperation, clean energy, and tourism.

“Austria is a wealthy, neutral country with a GDP per capita of USD 58,000 compared to Kenya’s USD 2,400,” Mr Afande said.

“Its economy is built on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which make up 90 percent of industries, mostly in high-tech sectors. I intend to leverage this for Kenya’s youths through technology transfer, training, and partnerships, especially in AI and ICT.”

On geopolitics, Mr Afande said Kenya’s foreign policy remained rooted in neutrality and non-alignment.

“With my multilateral experience, I will represent Kenya’s interests firmly while maintaining balanced relations with global powers,” he added.

Other nominees face the Committee

The vetting began on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, with five(5) other nominees appearing before the Committee.

First was Ms Florence Bore, nominee for High Commissioner to Namibia and former Cabinet Secretary for Labour. She said her top priority would be economic diplomacy. 

“We should engage Namibia more on trade and investments to open our markets, particularly for agricultural produce,” she said.

Committee members questioned Ms Bore about the lack of consular services in Namibia. Kenyan citizens currently travel to South Africa for services such as passports and birth certificates. She pledged to bring these services closer to Kenyans in Namibia.

Mr Anthony Muchiri, nominee for Ambassador to Turkey and current Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, highlighted Kenya’s trade imbalance with Turkey. 

“Kenya exports goods worth about USD 23 million to Turkey, but imports nearly USD 300 million. This imbalance is unacceptable,” he said.

He pledged to promote Kenyan products and advocate for reduced tariffs.

Acting Director General for Political and Diplomatic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lucy Kiruthu was vetted for Ambassador to Thailand. 

Ms Kiruthu committed to fighting human trafficking, and rogue recruitment agencies.

She said trafficking of Kenyan youths, particularly to countries like Myanmar, must be addressed through stronger preventive measures. 

“We must raise awareness among youth, prosecute rogue recruiters, and work with governments to repatriate victims,” she said.

Mr Henry Wambuma, nominee for Ambassador to Burundi, said he would work to encourage Burundi to resume using the Port of Mombasa, which lost business to Dar es Salaam. 

“With Kenya’s investment in the Naivasha inland port, I will work to attract Burundi back,” Mr Wambuma said.

He also noted Kenya’s active role in regional peace efforts in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Burundi.

Mr Abdirashid Abdille, who was nominated as Ambassador to Indonesia, said he would focus on expanding trade in tea and miraa and strengthening ties in agriculture, and industrialisation. 

“I'll prioritise protecting Kenyans working in Indonesia and ensuring we benefit from Indonesia’s development experience,” Mr Abdille said.