A record 93 Kenyans have died in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries since 2019, Government records indicate.
The figure is out of 87,784 employments the ministry has facilitated in the Gulf region.
The majority of the Kenyan migrant workers are in Saudi Arabia.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Labour and Social Welfare Committee chaired by Mwea MP Wachira Kabinga on Tuesday, Labour PS Peter Tum said most of the deaths are attributed to cardiac arrest and Covid-19.
Other causes include cancer, childbirth, respiratory complications, tuberculosis and meningitis.
The PS also explained that some of the deaths were a result of accidents and suicide.
“Since January 2019, the ministry has received reports of 93 deaths of migrant workers in the Gulf region,” the PS said.
He was responding to a question by nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi on the number of Kenyans who have lost their lives in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf regions.
Osotsi however disputed the figures saying the numbers downplays the real problem facing Kenyans in the Gulf region.
He demanded that the ministry gives a comprehensive response detailing all cases of deaths of Kenyans in the region.
“The responses are misleading to the Committee, in one year alone, we have 20 cases from Vihiga County alone,” he said.
The lawmaker also questioned the process of recruiting the agencies saying it contributes to the inhumane treatment Kenyans are facing in Saudi.
