By the NGOs.ke Editorial Team.
International Migrants Day falls on 18 December 2026, and for Kenyan NGOs the sharpest issue is the Gulf. One government-linked count cited in July 2026 says 316 Kenyans have died in Gulf states since 2022, 166 of them in Saudi Arabia, while the law meant to regulate recruitment, the Labour Migration and Management Bill, is still in Parliament. If your organisation works on labour rights, legal aid, gender or youth employment, here is where things stand and what you can do before 18 December.
How many Kenyans work in the Gulf, and what are the risks?
Estimates vary. A study republished by The Star in April 2026 puts the number of Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE at over 300,000 in 2025, with a few thousand more in Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. A July 2026 report in The Standard says more than 350,000 Kenyans live and work in Saudi Arabia alone.
The money is large. The same study says remittances reached US$5 billion in 2024, or 4.2 per cent of GDP, and notes President Ruto’s target of one million jobs abroad and US$10 billion in annual remittances. That is the policy pressure behind recruitment.
The risks are well documented. The Standard reports domestic workers in Saudi Arabia describing physical abuse, unpaid wages, confiscated travel documents, excessive working hours, sexual harassment and restricted movement. Its death count by country:
| Country | Kenyan deaths since 2022 |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 166 |
| Qatar | 58 |
| UAE | 51 |
| Iraq | 25 |
| Bahrain | 10 |
| Kuwait | 6 |
| Total | 316 |
The report does not say how many of these deaths involved abuse, so read the figure as a measure of scale, not cause.
What has Kenya done about it in 2026?
Two things are moving, and neither is finished.
- A new labour agreement with Saudi Arabia. Reported on 7 July 2026, it was signed during Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s visit to Riyadh and is meant to strengthen ethical recruitment, worker protection, skills recognition and working conditions. Public reporting gives few details, and we could not find the full text, so NGOs should ask the Ministry of Labour for it before advising clients.
- The Labour Migration and Management (No. 2) Bill (Senate Bill No. 42 of 2024). It is sponsored by Senator Tabitha Mutinda. After a June 2026 retreat, the National Assembly Labour Committee, chaired by Ken Chonga, backed expanding the National Employment Authority’s (NEA) mandate to oversee recruitment, enforce bilateral labour agreements and curb rogue agencies, with a bigger state role in distress cases and repatriation. Lawmakers also questioned whether private recruitment agencies should keep operating. The Bill has not been enacted, and further consultations are planned.
The University of Amsterdam researchers behind the April study say promised safe houses in Saudi Arabia and extra labour attachés had not materialised by 2025, and that pre-departure training time was cut in late 2024. In June 2026, Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina criticised missions for slow responses to distress calls.
Where can NGOs make a difference?
Government capacity is the gap, and civil society fills part of it. Practical entry points:
- Pre-departure information. Run sessions in the counties where recruitment is heaviest. Cover how to check that an agency is licensed by the NEA, why you should never hand over your passport to a broker, and what a written contract must say.
- Case documentation. Keep a simple log of complaints: agency name, destination, employer, dates, what was promised and what happened. Patterns are what persuade regulators and Parliament.
- Legal referral. Build links with legal aid providers. Our guide to legal aid and access to justice is a starting point.
- Family support. Relatives in Kenya are often the first to hear of a problem. Give them a clear route to report it.
- Submissions to Parliament. Ask the Labour Committee how to submit views on the Bill. Smaller NGOs rarely do, and the committee has said it will consult further.
- Protection of those who speak out. Returnees who go public can face pressure. See our piece on the Haki Village protection hub.
Migration is also a funding conversation. As donors tighten budgets, see how refugee aid cuts are reshaping what NGOs can deliver.
FAQ
When is International Migrants Day 2026?
18 December 2026, a Friday. The United Nations marks it every year; see the UN observance page.
How many Kenyans have died in the Gulf?
The Standard reported in July 2026 that 316 Kenyans have died in Gulf states since 2022, including 166 in Saudi Arabia, 58 in Qatar and 51 in the UAE.
Is the Labour Migration Bill law yet?
No. As of October 2026 it is still before Parliament, with the National Assembly Labour Committee planning more consultations.
What did Kenya and Saudi Arabia sign in 2026?
A Labour Recruitment and Employment Agreement covering ethical recruitment, worker protection, skills recognition, working conditions and welfare, reported in July 2026. Full details were not public in the reports we reviewed.
How can a small NGO help migrant workers?
Start with pre-departure information, a case log, a legal referral partner and a short submission to the Labour Committee.
Leave your comment