Saudi Arabia’s rapid development and economic growth have relied heavily on the labor of migrant workers. Among them are thousands of Kenyans, many of whom are women employed in the domestic sector. Despite being a generally low-risk profession elsewhere in the world, in Saudi Arabia, these women face a deadly reality marked by systemic exploitation and abuse. In the most severe cases, this has resulted in the deaths of at least 274 Kenyan domestic workers over the past five years.
Lured by deceptive recruiters and government campaigns promoting overseas domestic work as a path to financial security, several Kenyan women embark on a journey to Saudi Arabia. Many sign misleading contracts without fully understanding the terms. Meanwhile, those who uncover the abusive conditions awaiting them may wish to back out, but often face pressure from recruitment agencies to repay expenses they cannot afford.
Upon arriving in Saudi Arabia, these Kenyan women immediately find themselves disillusioned and trapped. Employers often confiscate their passports and phones, restricting their freedom of movement and isolating them from the outside world. These women are then enclosed within inadequate living conditions and forced to work grueling hours, often more than 16 per day, without rest or proper compensation. On average, these domestic workers earn the equivalent of just half a dollar per hour. Reports further indicate limited food availability, as well as accounts of physical, sexual, and verbal abuse from their employers. Racially motivated incidents are also common, as victims recall being routinely disparaged with racist slurs and segregated from the rest of the household due to their African heritage. Generally, attempts to report these abuses in Saudi Arabia have been hopeless, as the women frequently face retaliation.
A major driver of these abuses is the kafala sponsorship system, which legally binds migrant workers to their employers. While the Saudi government introduced new regulations for domestic workers in 2023, enforcement remains weak. Domestic workers remain excluded from the country’s main labor laws, and the oversight mechanisms needed to ensure compliance with new rules are either inadequate or nonexistent. Even where specific treatments are technically illegal, the lack of accountability allows these violations to continue unchecked.
Kenya’s role in this situation is equally troubling. Faced with high unemployment, the Kenyan government has actively promoted labor migration to the Gulf to bolster its economy, which heavily relies on remittances. In 2022, Kenya signed a revised bilateral labor agreement with Saudi Arabia to formalize recruitment and protect workers. However, the contents of this agreement are unpublicized, and whether it meets international standards remains elusive. In 2023, Kenya introduced a National Policy on Labor Migration, which promised stronger protections, including legal support and better pre-departure training. Yet, regulatory efforts on these commitments have been minimal and undermined by influential political figures who often have personal or financial ties to recruitment agencies. Even Kenya’s Commission on Administrative Justice disclosed interference by politicians as a major obstacle to reform.
Another obstacle to safeguarding migrant workers’ rights is the recurring power imbalance between labor-sending countries such as Kenya and wealthy receiving states like Saudi Arabia. During negotiations, sending countries often compromise on labor protections, striving to offer the most affordable and least regulated workforce, in an effort to remain competitive and continue drawing in remittances through their exported labor.
The situation faced by Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia stands in violation of international human rights standards. Both the Saudi and Kenyan governments have failed to meet their obligations and ensure the right to fair and safe working conditions, protection from forced labor, and freedom from discrimination and abuse. Until there is active enforcement and accountability from both sides, Kenyan domestic workers will continue to suffer the consequences of a system that prioritizes profit over human life.