Living conditions of Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia are “appalling.”

The plight of **Kenyan domestic workers** in Saudi Arabia has come to light, revealing harrowing stories of **abuse**, **racism**, and **exploitation**. According to a report published by **Amnesty International**, 72 Kenyan women shared their experiences of being confined, mistreated, and in some cases, subjected to **sexual assault** during their employment between 2020 and 2024.

Voices of the Victims

“I had no freedom, because once you are inside [the house], you don’t go out. You are not going outside, and you do not see the outside. I felt like I was in prison,” recounts Joy, a pseudonym for one of the women interviewed in the report titled “Locked Up, Excluded: The Hidden Lives of Kenyan Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia”. Within the Kingdom, which houses approximately **36 million** residents, it is estimated that nearly **4 million** people are engaged in domestic work, including over **150,000** Kenyans, as per official statistics provided by Amnesty.

Substandard Living Conditions

The **96-page document** produced by the NGO strongly emphasizes the shocking realities these women face, denouncing the **terrible living conditions** and the **abusive, discriminatory working conditions** that often border on **forced labor** and **human trafficking**. According to testimonies collected from these women, Saudi employers frequently confiscate their passports and apply an oppressive employment system known as the **Kafala** system, which effectively makes the domestic workers subservient to their sponsors and excludes them from local labor law protections.

The Kafala System: A Modern Form of Slavery

The Kafala system ties workers to their sponsors, who have absolute control over their movements and employment. This creates an environment where many women feel trapped and powerless, making it nearly impossible for them to seek help or escape. The system is **widely criticized** by human rights organizations for perpetuating a cycle of **abuse** and **exploitation**.

A Call for Action

Amnesty International’s report aims to shed light on these issues and advocate for better protections for all **migrant domestic workers** in the region. The **clear message** conveyed is that urgent action is required to address the systemic issues that allow for such **human rights abuses** to continue unchallenged. The organization calls for the Saudi government to abolish the Kafala system and implement robust labor protections that safeguard the rights of migrant workers.

Urgent Need for Global Attention

The stories of these Kenyan women are not just isolated incidents; they reflect a larger, ongoing crisis affecting **millions** of migrant workers around the world. Countries need to collaborate to ensure that such **exploitative practices** are addressed at both the **national** and **international** levels. The plight of domestic workers calls for a concerted effort in advocacy, legal reform, and raising public awareness to ensure their rights and dignity are respected.