NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 19 – Foreign and Diaspora affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua says there are Kenyans living in Saudi Arabia and Qatar who brew Chang’aa for a living, yet consumption of alcohol is illegal.
Speaking on Citizen Television, Mutua indicated that there are some Kenyans who travel specifically to operate this business.
“If you look at Saudi Arabia, it is a country that tells you clearly come here and work and you don’t want says you are quitting and go back but stay at the place you are working. I was surprised that out 100 Kenyans who get there, 20-30 vanish at the airport, they don’t get into the intended destinations,” he said
“They are picked up by other Kenyans not foreigners to undertake illicit activities, illegal activities. Those working in the houses are told by their friends that they are making sh. 40,000 a month and it is a side activity they can show them and, in a day, they’ll be making ksh 200 and within a month they will be building their mum a house.”
According to Mutua, several Kenyans involved in the illegal brewing industry sometimes because of peer influence from those who have stayed there for sometimes, have found themselves detained and deported for breaking foreign law due to the norms and cultures of some Middle Eastern nations that forbid alcohol consumption.
“Do you know there are Kenyans brewing chang’aa in some countries in the diaspora and it breaks my heart that we are discussing and debating about getting Kenyans there yet there are Kenyans already there with chang’aa dens, selling it to other Africans, an illegality or illegality in a Muslim Country,” he said.
“We are taking care of all Kenyans in Qatar ad we are the government and speaking the truth Kenyans are always business people and in some of these countries in the Middle East, alcohol is prohibited,” he said.
The CS further pledged that Ruto’s administration is committed to helping Kenyans living in Saudi Arabia and other nations, regardless of their number, and that assistance will always be available for them whenever they ask.
“When I got to Saudi Arabia, the story was a bit different than what we see; it’s not as bad as it sounds, but our job is to take care of the Kenyans in Saudi Arabia, it doesn’t matter whether it’s bad for one or two,” he said.
Mutua provided a phone number and toll-free number for anyone working abroad to call the ministry if they feel intimidated or treated unfairly.
The number is +966 500 755 060, or toll-free number 19911.
“So, we have got a number and there is somebody manning it 24/7 and they will respond, and if they are not manning, you write for me as the minister and I will get them fired because we want our Kenyans supported,”
“If somebody is abusing you, and we have heard conversation about this with the Saudi government, and we ask them why are your men and women abusing our people and they have said show me the people abusing and we will get them arrested.”
One of the main goals of President William Ruto’s administration was to address the persistent problem of Kenyans suffering abroad while also enhancing their economic power.
Mutua who was the chief guest at the December 2022 Annual Kenya Diaspora Homecoming Convention in Nairobi Mutua said,” that the convention themed “Inclusive growth leveraging diaspora resources” is in sync with President Ruto’s government policies which have identified that Kenya’s diaspora population plays a key role in the country’s economy.”
In September 2022, then Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Ambassador Kamau Macharia had claimed that some Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia were not submissive , leading to their mistreatment.
