Nairobi, Kenya — May 2025 – Thousands of Kenyan women, enticed by the promise of jobs and greener pastures in Saudi Arabia, are returning home with sad stories of abuse, exploitation, and trauma.
A new report by Amnesty International titled “Locked In, Left Out“ exposes the hidden suffering of Kenyan domestic workers trapped in Saudi households, highlighting a modern tragedy fueled by economic desperation and structural racism.
At the heart of this issue lies the Kafala system, a sponsorship model that effectively binds foreign domestic workers to their employers, denying them the freedom to change jobs or leave the country without permission.
Once in Saudi Arabia, many women face extreme working hours, with others recounting going through 16 to 18-hour workdays, with no days off, minimal food, verbal abuse, and in some cases, physical and sexual violence. Some women have even reported being raped.
“You don’t go out and do not see out. This made me feel like it’s a prison,” said Joy, one of the 72 women Amnesty interviewed.
The report outlines how deceptive recruitment practices in Kenya often mislead women into believing they’ll work in offices or schools, only for them to end up in grueling domestic roles, sometimes in multiple households.
With most earning less than 1 USD per hour and some being paid nothing at all, the dream of making it in life and having that financial prosperity quickly turns into exploitation and abuse.
Why Do Women Still Go?
The decision to migrate to these Middle Eastern nations is usually because of a dire need to provide for themselves and their families.
In 2022, nearly 40% of Kenyans lived below the poverty line. With youth unemployment skyrocketing and a lack of domestic opportunities, many families see overseas jobs as the only way out.
“I survived on biscuits,” said Katherine, who was given rotten food and physically abused. Despite everything, she added, “I think my experience was better than others.”
The Role of Race and History
Amnesty notes that the abuse is compounded by systemic racism.
Black African women are perceived as inferior, expendable, and even sexually available, views that stem from deep historical roots in the region’s slave trade.
Racist slurs like “animal” or “baboon” are commonly used by employers, reflecting centuries-old prejudices.
“They called us monkeys or baboons… I feel very bad,” said Rosaline.
Diplomacy and Government Response
Despite the shocking revelations, both the Kenyan and Saudi governments have been slow to act. This comes even after the Kenyan government has been thumping its chest, looking for applause, because they are providing a gateway for the Kenyan youth to go to the Middle East.
Kenya can grow its manufacturing industry and hire young people. They can invest more in the tourism sector, and hire the youth. But what do they do? They set up companies that facilitate the migration of Kenyans to the Middle East, profiting from the fees paid by these countries.
Amnesty notes that Saudi Arabia has made some minimal legal reforms, but these do not apply to domestic workers, and enforcement is virtually non-existent.
Kenya, on the other hand, has introduced a national labour migration policy and conducted ‘high-level’ meetings with Amnesty, but has yet to roll out meaningful protections.
The country still lacks comprehensive support systems for returnees and has not adequately cracked down on predatory recruitment agencies.
What Should Be Done
Amnesty International recommends that:
- Saudi Arabia must include domestic workers in its labour law, abolish the kafala system, and prosecute abusive employers.
- Kenya must establish better pre-departure protections, regulate recruitment firms, enhance consular support, and assist with reintegration.
Until such reforms are implemented, Kenyan women will continue to risk their lives for work abroad, because the alternative is poverty, not freedom.
