Labour CS nominee Florence Bore: How I plan to tackle Saudi deaths

Labour Cabinet Secretary nominee Florence Bore during her vetting by MPs on October 22, 2022. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

Labour Cabinet Secretary nominee Florence Bore has disclosed a raft of measures she'll take to protect the welfare of Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia.

Bore said, if approved by Parliament, she'll dialogue with the Saudi Arabian authorities, hire more representatives to the Middle East, create a diaspora welfare fund for Kenyans in Saudi Arabia and set up rescue centres in the Gulf state.

The CS nominee made these remarks during her vetting by the National Assembly's Committee on Appointments on Saturday, October 22.

Bore revealed that between January 1, 2022 and October 22, 2022 at least 62 Kenyans died in Saudi Arabia.

Majority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung'wah put Bore to task to explain how she intends to address the concerns and grievances of Kenyans facing mistreatment in the Gulf nations.

"Sixty-two (62) deaths in one year alone are too many deaths. Even one life alone is too precious to lose. We should find out what is happening in Saudi Arabia, and I promise to look into it," she said.

Bore said she'll seek Parliament's approval to allow the ministry spend Sh60 million to set up a rescue centre in Saudi Arabia.

Bore further said that she hopes to hire ten more attaches and post them to Saudi Arabia to help address the Kenyans' plight.

An attache is a person who works in an embassy and has a particular area of responsibility in which they have special knowledge.

She stated that in Saudi Arabia, Kenya currently has only one attache.

"The increase in the number of attaches will help resolve the challenges Kenyans are facing in Saudi Arabia. There are about 210,000 Kenyans in Saudi Arabia," said Bore.

The CS nominee also said that her ministry will oversee the creation of a welfare fund for Kenyans living in Saudi Arabia.

Bore further stated that she'll hire liaison officers who will be in contact with the Kenyan Embassy in the United Arab Emirates and the migrants' family members.