Ignoring the plight of Kenyans who toil in cruel conditions overseas while simultaneously celebrating the billions they send back home is one of the starkest contradictions of our time. It is an act of national hypocrisy that borders on modern-day slavery, sustained by silence, convenience and the desperate economic realities that push thousands to seek work in foreign lands each year. These remittances have become a lifeline for countless families and even a stabilizing force for the national economy, but beneath this celebrated flow of money lies a painful truth: too many Kenyans are paying with their dignity, their health, their safety and sometimes their lives.
For years, stories have emerged—some whispered, others publicly documented—of Kenyan domestic workers beaten, starved, overworked, sexually harassed or totally denied their wages in parts of the Middle East and Asia. Some have returned home with lifelong injuries, broken spirits or untreated mental trauma. Others have come back in coffins. Yet even in the face of these tragedies, the narrative that dominates at home is the celebratory tone around remittances hitting “record highs.” The human beings behind these figures, the cost they pay, their suffering and their struggles are rarely given the same national spotlight. We praise the money, not the people. We count the billions, not the tears.
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It is easy for a nation facing high unemployment, rising costs of living and limited opportunities to cling to remittances as a blessing. They sustain households, pay school fees, build homes and stimulate local economies. But our dependence on these funds has created a moral blind spot, where we have become comfortable ignoring the conditions under which they are earned. It is almost as if the country has accepted exploitation as an unfortunate but necessary trade-off. The unspoken message becomes: as long as the money reaches home, the suffering abroad is tolerable. This is a mindset dangerously close to the logic that upheld slavery centuries ago—using human beings as tools for economic gain while disregarding their humanity.
Kenyans who migrate for work are not asking for admiration. They are asking for protection, dignity and recognition that their safety matters more than the revenue they generate. They leave because job opportunities at home are limited, and they dream of a better life for their families. But hope should never be weaponized against them. Many are lured by agencies that promise good pay and humane working conditions, only to later discover that they have been trafficked into environments where they have no freedom, no rights and no one to turn to. Passport confiscation, forced labour, 18-hour workdays, delayed or unpaid wages, and conditions akin to imprisonment are common in the horror stories shared by returnees.
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The Kenyan government cannot pretend not to know these realities. Numerous reports, rescue missions, petitions, viral videos and diplomatic interventions have already exposed the extent of this crisis. There have been inquiries, statements, delegations and new policies on paper, but implementation remains patchy and often cosmetic. The recruitment industry continues to operate with loopholes wide enough for abuse to thrive. Rogue agencies still ship vulnerable youth out of the country with forged contracts or misleading promises. Many workers travel without proper orientation, legal protections or clear channels through which to seek help abroad. The system is broken, yet the celebration of remittances continues as though everything is fine.
Even more troubling is the normalization of suffering among migrant workers. Many Kenyans at home have grown accustomed to hearing horror stories, only to shrug and say, “At least they are making money.” This casual acceptance reflects a deeper societal failure. We have not fostered a culture that values labour rights, dignity of work or compassion for those whose economic opportunities lie beyond our borders. The silence is not just governmental; it is cultural. We are comfortable enjoying the benefits while refusing to confront the brutality that enables them.
Modern-day slavery is not always chains and markets. It can be disguised in employment contracts, recruitment fees, confiscated passports and desperate families waiting for money to survive. It thrives whenever society accepts exploitation as normal or unavoidable. In our context, it survives because of an economy that depends on foreign labour and a nation unwilling to ask hard questions about how this labour is treated. When a country celebrates remittances with pride but cannot muster outrage when one of its citizens dies under mysterious circumstances abroad, its moral compass is undeniably skewed.
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If Kenya truly values its people, then the protection of migrant workers must become a national priority, not an afterthought. Diplomatic missions must be strengthened to intervene swiftly. Illegal recruitment networks must be dismantled. Host countries that consistently violate labour rights must face firm negotiations and, where necessary, suspended labour agreements. Pre-departure training should not be a formality but a meaningful shield against exploitation. Families must be educated about their rights, risks and proper channels for travel. Most importantly, we must address the root cause at home: unemployment and low wages that push citizens to risk everything for uncertain opportunities abroad.
The celebration of remittances should never overshadow the lived experiences of the people earning them. Development built on the suffering of citizens is neither sustainable nor ethical. A nation that prides itself on progress cannot permit the exploitation of its people in foreign lands to become a silent pillar of its economy. The dignity of Kenyan workers must matter more than the money they send back. Their lives must matter more than economic statistics. Their safety must matter more than foreign exchange gains.
We cannot continue to enjoy the fruits while turning a blind eye to the thorns. Kenya owes its migrant workers respect, protection and genuine concern. Anything less is hypocrisy. Anything less is complicity in a modern-day form of slavery that strips citizens of their humanity while rewarding the nation with money that carries the weight of their suffering.
A morally upright society protects its people wherever they are. Kenya must decide whether it chooses money or humanity—because pretending to choose both has only served to deepen the wounds of those who sacrifice everything for a country that barely acknowledges their pain.
By Ashford Kimani
Ashford teaches English and Literature in Gatundu North Sub-county and serves as Dean of Studies.
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