In many countries, working as a housekeeper or nanny is considered a relatively safe profession. However, reports from Kenya and Uganda reveal a troubling trend among women seeking domestic jobs in Saudi Arabia, where many return home beaten, scarred, or in coffins.
Over the past five years, at least 274 Kenyans, predominantly women, have died in Saudi Arabia, with 55 fatalities reported in the last year alone—double the number from the previous year. Autopsies have raised further questions, with one Ugandan woman's death labeled “natural” despite signs of extensive bruising and electrocution.
The recruitment of East African women for domestic work in Saudi Arabia is regulated by the governments of Uganda, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia, involving established companies. However, many workers are misled about wages and conditions, often signing contracts they cannot understand. Recruitment agencies sometimes market women as products, and upon arrival, employers frequently confiscate their passports and belongings.
Women from Kenya typically earn around $250 a month, but many report being underpaid or denied wages entirely. Investigations reveal that powerful individuals, including high-ranking officials in Kenya and Uganda, have financial interests in staffing agencies that profit from these workers.
Despite evidence of abuse, leaders in both countries, including Kenya's President William Ruto, have committed to sending more workers abroad. Activists and human rights groups have urged governments to negotiate better labor agreements with Saudi Arabia, but existing treaties offer minimal protections for workers.
Women who suffer abuse often find little recourse. Many report severe mistreatment, including denial of food and physical violence. Although the Saudi government claims to protect workers, many women struggle to access legal resources and are often returned to their abusive employers.
In cases of serious injury or death, families face bureaucratic challenges and apathy. One Ugandan man, Isiko Moses Waiswa, recounted the painful choice he faced when learning of his wife's death in Saudi Arabia, where her employer offered either her body or her unpaid wages.