Kenyan Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia Suffer Abuse and Discrimination – Amnesty International

A new report by Amnesty International has exposed harrowing accounts of abuse, exploitation, and racial discrimination faced by Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, raising concerns over the safety and dignity of migrant workers.

Image: Houghton Irungu, Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director addressing the media in Mombasa.

Addressing the press during the report’s release in Mombasa, Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Houghton Irungu described the findings as “deeply disturbing,” based on testimonies from over 70 women who worked in Saudi households.

“Many of these women were deceived about the nature of their work. They endured long hours—sometimes up to 16 hours a day—without rest, and were mistreated by their employers,” said Irungu. “They were expected to clean, cook, care for children, and in some cases, forced to work in multiple homes without any additional pay or time off.”

One woman, who requested anonymity, recounted her ordeal with pain and frustration. “We've even been ignored by our own embassy. When we go there to report these mistreatments, nobody actually reacts to us,” she said.

Image; Amnesty International handing over the report to CECM tourism Hon. Mohammed Osman

The report outlines inhumane conditions including starvation, confinement, and constant surveillance. “It felt like prison,” another survivor shared. Others spoke of being physically and sexually assaulted, with no means to escape due to confiscation of their travel documents.

Another victim, deported after months of living in the streets, shared her emotional journey. “My ex-husband left me with children. My business collapsed. I had no choice but to leave my country and seek salvation from Omar. I lived a life I’d never want to live again. Before I left, my travel documents were taken. I ended up sleeping outside, including on the streets, until I was arrested and deported.”

According to May Romanos, a researcher at Amnesty International, many Kenyan women were subjected to racial slurs and degrading treatment. “They were called ‘monkeys’ or ‘slaves’ and forced to live in squalid conditions. Some had their salaries withheld or were denied access to medical care and any contact with their families,” she said.

While Saudi Arabia introduced labor reforms in 2021 to improve the conditions of migrant workers, Amnesty International believes the measures are far from adequate.

Paul Adhoch of Trace Kenya echoed this concern. “Although there are reforms, they fall short. The governments of both Kenya and Saudi Arabia must do more to protect these women. Kenya has a duty to safeguard its citizens abroad,” he stated.

Amnesty International is now calling for urgent legal reforms, independent oversight mechanisms, and enforceable protections to dismantle what it calls a system of “modern-day slavery.”

“Unless both governments act swiftly and decisively, thousands more will remain vulnerable to the same cycle of abuse and exploitation,”.

This warning comes amid rising numbers of Kenyans seeking opportunities in the Gulf. According to research conducted in Saudi Arabia, approximately 4 million Immigrants from different countries. Despite the reported abuse, about 150,000 unemployed Kenyans are being encouraged to seek job opportunities in Islamic states, including Saudi Arabia.

As the allure of foreign employment continues to grow, Amnesty stresses the need for stronger protections to ensure that desperation does not lead more citizens into lives of exploitation, silence, and suffering.