305 Kenyan diaspora deaths recorded in 2024, new report shows
Of the total, 184 were men and 121 were women. The highest number of deaths occurred in the United States (71), followed by India (50) and Uganda (22).
More Kenyans are dying abroad than ever before, with new government data showing a significant spike in diaspora deaths in 2024, especially in the United States, India, and Gulf nations, raising fresh concerns about the safety and well-being of Kenyans living and working overseas.
A report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reveals that 305 Kenyan deaths were recorded outside the country last year, a 13 per cent increase from the 270 deaths reported in 2023. The figures are drawn from the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System.
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Of the total, 184 were men and 121 were women. The highest number of deaths occurred in the United States (71), followed by India (50) and Uganda (22).
Other countries included the United Kingdom (19), Tanzania (18), Saudi Arabia and South Africa (15 each), United Arab Emirates (14), Qatar (12), and Canada (eight).
An additional 61 deaths came from various other nations.
People aged 50 to 54 accounted for the highest number of deaths, with 38 cases, while only two fatalities were recorded among those aged 20 to 24. No deaths were reported in the five to nine and 10 to 19-year age brackets.
While men outnumbered women in most age categories, female deaths were higher in the 30–34, 50–54, and 65–69 age groups.
“These figures help us understand our population trends and inform key decisions in public health and planning,” read a KNBS statement accompanying the report, which also covers births, marriages, and adoptions.
The increase in deaths abroad has put the spotlight back on the conditions faced by Kenyan migrant workers, particularly in Gulf states.
In remarks to the Senate, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi disclosed that 316 Kenyans have died in Gulf countries since 2022. Saudi Arabia accounted for the highest number of deaths at 166, followed by Qatar (58), UAE (51), Iraq (25), Bahrain (10), and Kuwait (six). Oman and Iran had no reported deaths.
Mudavadi estimated that 416,548 Kenyans are currently working in these countries, with Saudi Arabia hosting the largest share, 310,266 workers. He noted that movement between states and the lack of embassy registration make it hard to track accurate figures.
“Kenyans in these territories exhibit high movement between various states,” he said. “The numbers given constitute periodic statistics derived from our missions in these countries, further corroborated through official sources of the host governments.”
Mudavadi also lamented that many Kenyans fail to register with embassies, despite ongoing awareness efforts by the government.
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