Kenya has officially inaugurated a new Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as part of its efforts to enhance service delivery and protect the welfare of its citizens living and working in the Gulf region.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, who presided over the ceremony on Monday, said the new consulate will serve as Kenya’s second diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia after the embassy in Riyadh. Aden Mohamed has been appointed as the consul-general for the Jeddah office, located in the western region of the Kingdom.
The establishment of the mission comes amid rising public concern over the welfare of Kenyan migrant workers, particularly domestic workers who have reported cases of exploitation, human trafficking, and abuse in the Gulf states.
The Jeddah Consulate is expected to enhance consular protection, coordinate welfare interventions, and engage more closely with Kenyans residing in Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah. It will also facilitate pilgrimage matters for Kenyan Muslims traveling to the holy cities.
According to government data, over 151,000 documented Kenyans live and work in Saudi Arabia, though estimates suggest the figure could be as high as 200,000. Many of them are domestic workers facing harsh working conditions. Between 2020 and 2022, over 175 Kenyan deaths were recorded in the Kingdom.
Sing’oei said the mission aligns with Kenya’s revised Foreign Policy and the 2024–2027 Strategic Plan for the Jeddah Consulate, which aims to strengthen diaspora engagement and promote Kenya’s economic interests in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
The move follows repeated calls by Parliament and rights groups for Kenya to establish a presence in western Saudi Arabia to better respond to welfare cases and oversee labour recruitment agencies. The consulate will work closely with the embassy in Riyadh and the Ministry of Labour to monitor worker conditions and coordinate repatriations.
