Kenyan Women Recount Their Ordeals In Saudi Arabia

Kenyan women recount their ordeals in Saudi Arabia as they revealed they were called Monkeys

Amid racist abuse faced by many Africans in diaspora, Kenyan women in Saudi Arabia Have recounted their ordeal in the Gulf country.

According to reports, Kenyan women recruited as domestic staff in Saudi Arabia are going through extreme racist abuse.

On Tuesday, In recent reports made by Amnesty International, Kenyan women are made to endure extreme abuse, racism, and exploitative measures that result in forced labour and human trafficking.

The report is titled, “Locked in, Left Out: The Hidden Lives of Kenyan Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia.”

Kenyan Women Recount Their Ordeals In Saudi Arabia

The reports mirror how more than 70 Kenyan women are subjected to abuse and racism following deceit by Kenyan recruitment agents who promised them heaven on earth, but ended up working in harsh condition in private homes in Saudi Arabia, seven days of the week, without days off, extremely long hours with harsh embargo placed on their freedom.

“These women travelled to Saudi Arabia in search of work to support their families but instead endured unspeakable abuse in the homes of their employers,” said Irungu Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya.

“The Kenyan government is actively encouraging labour migration, and the Saudi Arabian authorities claim that they have introduced labour rights reforms, yet behind closed doors domestic workers continue to face shocking levels of racism, abuse and exploitation.”

The reports also corroborates how the Arab employers regularly seize the passports and phones of their employees, leaving their employees stranded and unable to get in-touch with their families.

Reports also revealed that many of their employees face physical, verbal, and sexual abuse, and are subjected to face labour−working more than 16 hour daily for a token of $0.50 per hour.

Kenyan Women Recount Their Ordeals In Saudi Arabia

“She [the employer] didn’t think that I could get tired. There was no chance to rest… I would work for her the whole day and then even at night, I would still be working.

“I felt like a donkey and even donkeys find rest,” said Rashida, one of the women interviewed.  

Her shared experience was amplified by others who also shared similar experiences of confinement and psychological stress.

“I have no freedoms, because once you are inside you never go out. You don’t go out and do not see out. This made me feel like it’s a prison,” said Joy.

Eve added: “The first thing my boss did was to take my passport. If you ask, they will tell you ‘I have paid for everything for you,’…and you will not dare to say anything because you are in a foreign country.”

They also reported a case of malnutrition and denial of access to good food as some were usually given leftovers, while others were made to survive on dry noodles, bread, or biscuits.

“Food was the main problem,” said Katherine, explaining that her employer threw out meals she made for herself.

The reports also disclosed their substandard living conditions as they were forced to sleep on the floors, in cupboards, or in their children’s room without any bed or ventilation.

Kenyan Women Recount Their Ordeals In Saudi Arabia

The reports of sexual abuse were also made, which usually led to sexual violence, with some Kenyan women reported to have been raped on several occasions.

“He did rape me and even threatened me not to tell the wife. I kept quiet. It was like his daily routine… I tried [to tell him stop] but men are very strong.

“So eventually he did rape me, five times…” said Judy, a single mother who had left an abusive marriage in Kenya.

In their testimonies, they said any victim who made an attempt to report would meet fierce retaliation, including false accusation, wage theft, unlawful detention.

The reports also revealed a chronically inflicted system of racial abuse. Many of the women also revealed that they were being addressed, using racist slurs.

“Because of my dark complexion, I was always called a Black animal.

Then children would also come to my face to point and laugh, saying how I am a monkey,” said Niah.

“They called us monkeys or baboons,” said another woman, describing the degrading treatment by employers who viewed African domestic workers as inferior.

“At the heart of the abuse lies a labour system underpinned by historical and structural racism, where racialised migrant domestic workers – including Black African women – are dehumanized and treated as disposable,” said Houghton.

Despite various reforms under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, domestic staff are not protected by labour law and continue to be under the Kafala Sponsorship System, which affords the employers unquestionable control over the movement and employment of their staff.

Kenyan Women Recount Their Ordeals In Saudi Arabia

Recalling in 2023, Saudi Arabia introduced unified regulations for domestic workers, but Amnesty International says that the regulations are ineffective without enforcement.

Under the Saudi labour law, many abuses reported by the women are illegal and punishable.

“Kenya has a big role to play in the protection of domestic workers abroad.

It must work with Saudi Arabia to ensure the protection of migrant workers by better regulating recruitment practices and ensuring embassies are equipped to urgently support domestic workers in distress, including providing safe houses as well as financial and legal support for those in need,” Houghton added.

Following Amnesty International’s efforts to reach Saudi and Kenya governments over the inhumane treatments, neither of the governments responded.

In the report of Saudi labour statistics, about 4 million domestic staff are under employment in the country, all of whom are foreigners, with an estimated number of 150,000 Kenyans.

As the unemployment continues to bite, Kenya continues to aid migration to Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia one of the top likely destinations.

Note: Names of the women have been changed to shield their identities and protect their lives.

Kenyan Women Recount Their Ordeals In Saudi Arabia