Saudi Arabia has become a deadly destination for many East African domestic workers. Lured by staffing agencies promising decent jobs, many are trapped in domestic slavery facing conditions such as unpaid wages, physical abuse, restricted movement—and even death. Over the past five years, at least 274 Kenyan workers—mostly women—have died while working there. An unknown number of Ugandans have also died, but their government does not publish any official data.
Employer said he “bought her”
Migrant workers in Saudi Arabia remain trapped under the kafala (sponsorship) system, which ties their legal status to their employer. This system restricts their ability to change jobs, leave exploitative conditions, or return home without employer permission.
Margaret Mutheu Mueni, a Kenyan woman, endured abusive conditions under her Saudi employer including starvation and confiscation of her passport. Her employer even told her he had “bought her.” As reported by the Deccan Herald, when she turned to her recruitment agency for assistance, they responded:
“You can swim across the Red Sea and get yourself back to Kenya.”
Another young woman, a mother, broke her back after jumping from a third-story rooftop to escape an abusive boss. Yet another said her employer raped her, then sent her home pregnant and without pay.
Exploited by those who should protect them
Kenya and Uganda remain in prolonged economic slumps, and remittances from migrant workers have become a vital source of national income. But the financial interests of political elites also appear deeply tied to the migration system.
In Kenya, lawmakers like Fabian Kyule Muli—vice chair of the National Assembly’s labor committee—have the power to push for investigations or demand better protections. Instead, he owns a recruitment company that promotes overseas work for women and has even dismissed evidence of abuse.
Kenyan President William Ruto has expressed plans to send up to 500,000 workers to Saudi Arabia, while one of his top advisers, Moses Kuria, has owned a staffing agency. Kuria’s brother, still active in politics, also owns one.
The Deccan Herald reports:
“Kenya’s Commission on Administrative Justice declared in 2022 that worker-protection efforts had been hindered by “interference by politicians who use proxies to operate the agencies.””
Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, members of the royal family have invested heavily in the agencies that place domestic workers. As a result, powerful actors across all three countries have strong incentives to keep the system running—despite the well-documented suffering of the workers themselves.
How the Philippines’ action shifted the crisis to Africa
Some countries have taken steps to protect their migrant workers. In 2012, the Philippines negotiated a deal with Saudi Arabia that secured higher wages. In response, staffing agencies began searching for cheaper sources of labor.
African countries quickly became the next target. One of Saudi Arabia’s largest staffing firms, Maharah Human Resources, even described African nations as a “new and lower-cost services market” in a 2019 statement. As migration to Saudi Arabia spread, so did reports of deaths and abuse across East Africa.
Despite growing concerns, transparency remains absent. Nearly every staffing agency refused to answer questions or respond to repeated requests for comment—including those run by influential politicians like Muli.
Better protections now!
Although Saudi Arabia introduced labor reforms in 2021, domestic workers were excluded—leaving them vulnerable and without protections. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Human Resources claimed the government had increased fines for abuse and made it easier for workers to leave abusive jobs. But Ugandan labor officials acknowledge that exploitation remains widespread, despite the promises.
Domestic workers continue to suffer under systems that fail to protect them—and those responsible face little accountability. That’s why we must keep speaking out. Sign our petition today to help end domestic servitude and demand stronger protections for workers everywhere.
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