PS Njogu calls for safe houses in diaspora to protect over 4 million Kenyans
Safe houses are secure, temporary shelters often run by governments, NGOs, or embassies to protect vulnerable individuals — such as victims of abuse, trafficking, or those fleeing crises.
Kenya does not currently have any government-run safe houses abroad to cater for its growing diaspora population, a situation that Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu says is placing the lives of Kenyan citizens overseas at risk — especially in times of crisis.
Speaking during an engagement in Naivasha on Friday with the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs, Njogu made a strong case for the urgent establishment of safe houses and a dedicated Diaspora Welfare Fund to support Kenyans in distress across the globe.
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The PS, who often fields distress calls from Kenyans abroad, said the absence of such infrastructure limits the government's ability to respond swiftly to emergencies, including cases of abuse, war, natural disasters, or forced displacement.
She proposed that the fund be sourced jointly from government allocations and diaspora remittances, noting it would also help with evacuation and repatriation efforts.
The fund, she emphasised, would ensure that Kenyan missions abroad are equipped not only diplomatically but also logistically to assist citizens in real time.
Safe houses are secure, temporary shelters often run by governments, NGOs, or embassies to protect vulnerable individuals — such as victims of abuse, trafficking, or those fleeing crises.
In many countries, such shelters provide immediate accommodation, legal aid, medical care, and repatriation support.
Njogu cited Uganda, a country with a significantly smaller budget than Kenya, but one that operates effective safe houses abroad to safeguard its nationals.
"As a country with over 4 million of its people living abroad, it is imperative that we find ways to protect them," she added.
She specifically highlighted the urgent need for safe houses in high-risk deployment destinations such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia, which have reported high incidences of abuse against migrant workers — many of them women working under the kafala system.
Njogu's remarks come as Kenya increasingly recognises the strategic and economic importance of its diaspora, which is officially recognised by the African Union as the continent's "sixth region."
In 2023 alone, diaspora remittances hit record highs, making it one of Kenya's top sources of foreign income.
Experts say the establishment of safe houses would not only offer security and dignity for Kenyans abroad but also signal a more compassionate, proactive foreign policy anchored in citizen welfare.
The PS urged lawmakers to support the proposal and embed diaspora protection into the country's broader diplomatic architecture.
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