Hundreds of Kenyans seeking job opportunities in Saudi Arabia have been put on high alert following a recent crackdown by the Saudi government on illegal activities.
The operation, which has resulted in the arrest of over 50 people, including 11 women, is part of the kingdom’s ongoing effort to combat what officials are calling “immoral acts.”
Among the activities Saudi authorities are targeting are begging and sex work, both of which have become increasingly prevalent among foreign workers in the country.
In response, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has created a special unit dedicated to addressing “community security and human trafficking,” leading to the arrest of dozens of foreign nationals.
The crackdown coincides with a rise in the number of Kenyans traveling to the Gulf region in search of employment, particularly in domestic work and semi-skilled jobs.
However, many Kenyans have fallen victim to fraudulent recruitment agencies, being lured to Saudi Arabia with promises of jobs that turn out to be non-existent.
This leaves many workers stranded without employment, and some are forced to resort to begging as a means of survival an activity that is now under intense scrutiny by Saudi authorities.
In one such instance, four expatriates were arrested in February for engaging in “immoral acts” at a massage facility in Riyadh, while a police raid also led to the arrest of three foreign women accused of sex work.
Saudi authorities are also stepping up efforts to combat street begging, a problem that often involves foreigners arriving in the country under false promises of employment.
Though the reasons behind the intensified crackdown remain unclear, experts suggest that it could be linked to Saudi Arabia’s efforts to maintain a clean public image ahead of the 2034 World Cup, which the country is set to host.
Khalid Al-Sulaiman, a columnist for the semi-official Okaz newspaper, also speculates that the surge in anti-immoral activity measures may be a response to the growing use of social media to promote businesses deemed immoral in the Middle East.
By projecting a more conservative image, Saudi Arabia hopes to attract foreign investment in preparation for the global event.
Kenyans are likely to be among those most affected by the crackdown, especially considering a recent report from the National Employment Authority (NEA).
According to the report, the Kenyan government has facilitated the immigration of more than 200,000 workers abroad since 2024, with Saudi Arabia being the largest recipient, accounting for 194,320 placements.
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