Hundreds of Kenyan women who traveled to Saudi Arabia in search of work and a better life have instead found themselves trapped in a cycle of abuse, exploitation, and even death. Over the past five years, at least 274 Kenyan domestic workers have died while working in Saudi Arabia, according to recent government data. This shocking number has raised urgent questions about the safety and rights of migrant workers and the systems that continue to fail them.
While labor migration has long been a source of income and hope for many families in Kenya, this recent data has sparked national and international concern. The story is not just about lost lives — it is about a deeply broken system that exposes some of the most vulnerable people to unthinkable harm, with very little accountability.
Why Kenyan Women Go to Saudi Arabia
Many Kenyan women choose to work in Saudi Arabia because of limited job opportunities at home. In Kenya, unemployment, especially among the youth and women, remains high. Recruitment agencies often promise salaries of up to four or five times what they could earn locally. They also claim to provide safe living and working conditions.
For many, the idea of working abroad is not just appealing — it’s a necessity. Families rely on remittances sent home from abroad to pay for food, rent, education, and healthcare. These women leave behind children, spouses, and parents in the hope of building a better future. But what awaits them is often far from the promises made during recruitment.
The Role of Recruitment Agencies
Recruitment agencies in Kenya and Saudi Arabia are a major part of this story. These agencies act as middlemen between the workers and their future employers in the Gulf. Some of these companies are legally registered and operate under labor laws, but many others operate in a legal grey area, ignoring regulations and putting profit over people.
Investigations show that several agencies are linked to powerful individuals, including politicians and business elites in Kenya, Uganda, and even members of the Saudi royal family. These agencies often charge high placement fees, which workers are expected to repay from their salaries. This creates a debt trap, leaving workers financially and emotionally vulnerable.
In many cases, agencies fail to follow up on the conditions under which their recruits live and work. Once the workers arrive in Saudi Arabia, they are often left entirely in the hands of their employers, with little or no support.
A System Designed to Silence
At the heart of the issue is the controversial kafala system, which exists in many Gulf countries. Under this system, a migrant worker’s legal status is tied to their employer. Workers cannot leave their job, switch employers, or exit the country without the employer’s permission. This leaves them completely dependent and, in many cases, powerless.
For domestic workers, who often live inside their employer’s home, this control is even more extreme. Many women report having their phones taken away upon arrival. Some are not allowed to contact their families. Others are locked inside homes, forced to work long hours without rest, food, or pay. Physical and emotional abuse is common. There are also increasing reports of sexual abuse, especially among younger workers.
Real Stories, Real Pain
Behind the statistics are real people — daughters, mothers, sisters — whose lives have been destroyed. Some survivors have shared stories of being beaten, starved, or denied medical care. Others say they were forced to sleep on floors, made to work 20-hour days, or subjected to threats when they tried to speak up.
In one widely shared account, a Kenyan woman described how she begged to return home after facing abuse but was locked in a room for weeks by her employer. Another told of being trafficked from one household to another, each time facing new forms of exploitation. In the worst cases, workers have died under unclear circumstances. Their bodies are returned to Kenya in coffins, often with no explanation for how they died.
Many families are left with more questions than answers. Some have to fight to get the remains of their loved ones back. Autopsy reports are rarely shared. Governments on both sides are often slow to respond, leaving grieving relatives with no closure.
The Plight of Mothers and Children
There is also a growing number of Kenyan single mothers stranded in Saudi Arabia. These women often give birth to children while working abroad. But because Saudi law does not recognize children born outside of marriage, many of these mothers face legal problems. The children cannot be issued exit visas, making it nearly impossible for these families to return to Kenya. These women live in limbo, unable to work legally, return home, or access support services.
Some are forced to hide their children, living in constant fear of arrest or deportation. Others are stuck in shelters, waiting for governments to find solutions that rarely come. Their stories highlight the deep flaws in a system that fails to protect even the most basic human rights.
A Network of Complicity
What makes this situation even more troubling is the widespread complicity among those in power. With agencies run by influential individuals and government officials often turning a blind eye, efforts to address the crisis remain weak. In some cases, officials deny the scale of the abuse. In others, they blame the victims for “misunderstanding” their contracts or “not adjusting” to the cultural environment.
There are labor agreements in place between Kenya and Saudi Arabia meant to protect workers. However, enforcement is weak, and violations are rarely punished. Critics say the agreements are more about protecting diplomatic ties than protecting human beings.
Growing Calls for Change
Human rights groups are calling for urgent reform. They demand the end of the kafala system, stronger oversight of recruitment agencies, and legal protections for domestic workers. There are also calls for the Kenyan government to take stronger action to hold abusive agencies and employers accountable.
Some progress has been made. Kenya has temporarily suspended labor export to Saudi Arabia in the past due to the abuse reports, but the bans are usually short-lived. Economic pressure often leads to the reopening of migration pathways without any serious changes.
Advocates stress that real change will only come with long-term policies that prioritize the rights and safety of workers, not just the flow of money. Education campaigns, legal aid, and stronger labor inspections are among the tools needed to break the cycle.
Final Thoughts
The story of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia is a painful reminder of what happens when systems prioritize profit and power over people. These women leave home with dreams of opportunity. Instead, too many return in coffins — or not at all.
For every life lost, there are countless others living in fear, silence, and suffering. It’s time for real accountability — and for leaders to protect the very people they are meant to serve. Until then, the tragic toll of labor migration will only continue to rise.
