The Perils of Domestic Work: A Dark Journey from East Africa to Saudi Arabia

This article sheds light on the alarming deaths and abuses faced by Kenyan and Ugandan women who migrate to Saudi Arabia for domestic work, driven by promises of financial stability but confronting a harsh reality of exploitation and violence.

On any given day at Nairobi's international airport, groups of women can be seen preparing for their journeys to Saudi Arabia, lured by promises of stable employment. Company recruiters, alongside the Kenyan government, encourage these women with visions of financial success—enough money to build homes and educate their kids. However, this enthusiasm contrasts sharply with the grim prospects waiting in the arrivals section, where many return tragically altered.

Over the last five years, at least 274 Kenyan workers, predominantly women, have died under suspicious circumstances in Saudi Arabia—an alarming statistic for a workforce engaged in roles generally regarded as safe. Last year alone, the death toll surged, with 55 fatalities recorded, raising serious concerns about the conditions these women face while working abroad.

Many of the autopsy reports present vague conclusions despite evidence of trauma, attributing deaths to nonspecific causes such as "natural causes," neglecting signs of abuse such as burns or electric shocks. Additionally, the plight of Ugandan workers remains obscure due to a lack of available governmental statistics.

With the responsibility to protect these women falling to government officials like Fabian Kyule Muli, vice chairman of Kenya’s National Assembly labor committee, there is a pressing need for accountability. The committee possesses the power to demand improved investigations into worker fatalities, advocate for meaningful protections from the Saudi government, and propose legislative measures to regulate migration until necessary reforms are implemented.