{
  "id": 17759828,
  "title": "Saudi labour reforms blamed for decline in Kenyan diaspora remittances",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/saudi-labour-reforms-blamed-for-decline-in-kenyan-diaspora-remittances",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-02T06:04:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital Business",
    "slug": "capital-business",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/saudi-labour-reforms-blamed-for-decline-in-kenyan-diaspora-remittances/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NAIROBI, Kenya - Saudi Arabia's recent labour reforms have reportedly led to a decrease in the number of Kenyan workers in the kingdom, thereby impacting remittances sent back to Kenya, according to Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor Kamau Thugge. Thugge stated that the reforms, which prioritize skilled workers over semi-skilled labour, have resulted in a reduction of Kenyans staying in Saudi Arabia, a key source of diaspora remittances for Kenya. Speaking during a meeting with the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning in Machakos, Thugge highlighted that CBK data indicated a more than 50% drop in remittances from Saudi Arabia during the first nine months of 2026, falling to approximately $121.5 million from $251.3 million in the same period in 2025. This decline contributed to a slight decrease in overall diaspora remittances, which reached about $3.77 billion between January and September, slightly below the amount recorded during the same period in 2025. Inflows from North America, the largest source of remittances for Kenya, also weakened, partially offsetting gains from other regions. The slowdown in remittances from Saudi Arabia follows a record year in 2025, when Kenyans living abroad sent home around $5 billion, marking a 1.9% annual growth. Thugge did not disclose the exact number of Kenyan workers affected by the Saudi labour reforms during his session with the committee.",
  "summary": "NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 2 – Changes in Saudi Arabia’s labour laws have contributed to a decline in the number of Kenyan workers in the country, affecting money sent home, Central…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}