The National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations has put ambassadorial nominees to task on Kenya’s foreign policy priorities.

Appearing before the Committee, Amb. Joseph Musyoka Masila, nominee for Ambassador to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was questioned on the plight of Kenyan migrant workers. Hon. Martha Wangari (Gilgil) raised alarm over the rising deaths of Kenyans, particularly women, in the Gulf state.

“I feel like the labour market in Saudi Arabia, despite being an opportunity, also has been a tragedy. In the last five years, we’ve lost almost 300, including just last week. In my constituency, we are bringing a body from Riyadh,” Hon. Wangari said. “We still are not doing enough to protect lives, especially women. What do you think is the underlying cause of these deaths, and do you have statistics of Kenyans currently working in Saudi Arabia?”

In response, Amb. Masila admitted shortcomings in past bilateral arrangements. “This issue has been recurring for a very long time. The previous bilateral agreement had gaps. It didn’t have adequate standards for labour protection,” he said.

He assured the Committee that his first priority would be to secure a revised Bilateral Labour Agreement. “This new agreement has very robust safeguard measures to protect our Kenyans,” he said, adding that he would advocate for a legal officer at the Riyadh mission to strengthen support for distressed workers.

The nominee also pledged faster consular response times. “One of the things I’ll do is make sure distress calls are handled with urgency, and turnaround time is improved,” he said.

On religious diplomacy, Amb. Masila said he would coordinate closely with the Consul-General in Jeddah to ensure smooth facilitation of the Hajj pilgrimage. “We have a responsibility to support Kenyan pilgrims so that Hajj is a fulfilling experience. I will personally be available to support our mission,” he said.

The Committee also vetted Amb. Edwin Afande, nominated for Ambassador to Vienna, Austria, with accreditation to Hungary, Ukraine and other European states. Members reminded him that Kenyan envoys have often cited limited budgets as a barrier to effective representation in multiple countries.

Hon. Fred Ikana (Shinyalu) asked, “With your diplomatic experience, what skills will you employ to effectively represent Kenya across multiple countries under your accreditation?”

Amb. Afande pointed to economic diplomacy as his top agenda. “Austria is a wealthy, neutral country with a GDP per capita of $58,000 compared to Kenya’s $2,400. Its economy is built on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, mostly in high-tech sectors. I intend to leverage this for Kenya’s youth through technology transfer, training, and partnerships, especially in AI and ICT,” he told the Committee.

Highlighting Austria’s tourism strength, he said, “A country of nine million attracts 32 million international arrivals annually. I will seek partnerships to boost Kenya’s tourism sector and open up more opportunities for our people.”

On geopolitics, the nominee drew parallels between Vienna and Nairobi. “Kenya’s foreign policy is anchored in neutrality and non-alignment, similar to Austria. With my multilateral experience, I will represent Kenya’s interests firmly while maintaining balanced relations with global powers,” he said.

Committee Chair, Hon Nelson Koech (Belgut) commended both nominees for their candid submissions, saying “These missions carry heavy responsibilities from protecting our workers to securing investments. Kenyans are watching,” he remarked.

The Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations will prepare and table its Report for consideration by the National Assembly after resumes from recess.