A new report by Amnesty International has revealed widespread abuse of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, with over 70 women detailing exploitation, deception, and forced labor under inhumane conditions.
Launched in Mombasa on Tuesday, the report describes how women were misled by recruitment agents, denied rest, worked without pay, and endured harsh treatment. One survivor, Bigeni Maina Mwangi, recounted being promised a beautician job but forced into domestic servitude upon arrival. She worked for 17 months without pay and later faced worse abuse in Oman. Another victim, Mejuma Shaban Ali, said her ordeal began when she signed a contract at the Nairobi airport. Describing her workplace as “a prison,” she escaped and sought help from the Kenyan embassy, only to be told to find new employment.
Amnesty urged both Kenyan and Saudi authorities to enforce labor protections, prosecute abusers, and ban rogue recruitment agencies. Executive Director Irungu Houghton called the system “modern slavery.” Kenya’s government has recently repatriated over 100 stranded citizens and pledged tougher oversight of recruitment practices. An estimated 150,000 Kenyans work as domestic staff in Saudi Arabia.
