Thousands of women from Kenya and Uganda leave their countries every day to seek employment in Saudi Arabia, considering that they will fulfill their dreams of a better life. Their lives would soon be turned upside down when they discovered that they had entered a world of hell characterized by exploitation, torture, rape, and even murder awaited them.
In the past five years, at least 274 Kenyan workers, predominantly women, have died in Saudi Arabia. This alarming statistic stands out for a relatively young workforce performing what are usually deemed very safe jobs in other countries. Moreover, at least 55 Kenyan workers lost their lives last year, marking a doubling of the toll compared to the year before.
Recruitment agencies in East Africa attract young women through enticing ads and appealing offers, presenting the prospect of thriving as domestic workers or nannies. However, the reality awaiting them in Saudi Arabia starkly contrasts with their dreams. International investigations and human rights reports, particularly from The New York Times, have revealed the tragedy of African domestic employees, many of whom bear physical and sexual abuse, cruel treatment, and strenuous work hours without pay or rest.
The silent suffering of domestic workers in Saudi Arabia
Some women have been sexually assaulted by their employers, while others have endured physical torture, such as being thrown from balconies. Media reports have reported cases of workers who were thrown from upper floors after being attacked. Some ended up bedridden due to serious injuries, while others vanished entirely.
Autopsy reports are incomplete and inconsistent. They represent women with proof of trauma, including injuries and electric shocks, all marked as natural deaths. One woman’s cause of death was reported as “brain dead.” Countless Ugandans have also died, yet their government provides no statistics.
Saudi Arabia ranks among the top countries employing African women as domestic workers. However, life inside many Saudi households turns into a prison. Numerous women remain isolated from society and stripped of their fundamental rights, rendering them victims of contemporary slavery. Despite continuous appeals for their safeguarding, Mohammed bin Salman’s administration persists in overlooking the growing instances of abuse, as disturbing cases continue to surface.
In a stark irony, the Saudi Crown Prince leads the UN Commission on Women’s Rights, while the rights of women- particularly African domestic workers—are violated within his own nation. Though the government issues statements advocating for reforms, families in Uganda and Kenya remain in limbo, anxiously awaiting news of their missing daughters. These young women aimed to chase their aspirations but now either return in coffins or are lost forever.