Riyadh/Nairobi : “Go to Saudi Arabia, and within two years, you’ll transform your life.” This false promise lures thousands of African women—mainly from Kenya and Uganda—into the brutal reality of forced domestic labor in Saudi Arabia. Upon arrival, their passports are confiscated, and they are subjected to inhumane treatment, including starvation, physical abuse, and in extreme cases, murder. Reports indicate that over 274 Kenyan women have died in Saudi Arabia in the past five years, while the death toll of Ugandan domestic workers remains unrecorded.
The ‘Kafala System’: A Trap for Indian Domestic Workers Too
Indian domestic workers in Saudi Arabia also suffer under the notorious Kafala system, which binds them to their employers. They cannot switch jobs or leave the country without the employer’s permission. In 2016, Dhatvayani Uma Shankar, an Indian domestic worker, jumped from a second-floor building due to unbearable physical and mental torture. Though recent government efforts have aimed at reforming the system, the abuse continues.
Online Sale of Kenyan Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia
Shocking revelations expose Saudi-based websites openly listing Kenyan domestic workers for sale, offering an “Add to Cart” option for potential buyers. Two of the biggest recruitment agencies, Mahara and Smasco, are directly linked to the Saudi royal family. When grieving families demand justice for their loved ones’ deaths, Saudi authorities maintain a disturbing silence. Meanwhile, Kenyan leaders have admitted their inability to guarantee the safety of Kenyan women in Saudi Arabia, further highlighting the extent of political complicity.
Horrifying Cases of Abuse and Death
- Murder in a Water Tank: Kenyan worker Eunice Achieng called her family, pleading for help as her employer threatened to kill her. Days later, her lifeless body was found in a rooftop water tank.
- Torture and Cover-up: Kenyan worker Aisha Mimi had three broken ribs, burn marks, and visible signs of electrocution, yet Saudi authorities classified her death as “natural”.
- Imprisoned for Demanding Wages: Ugandan worker Mary Nasiimenta was locked on the third floor of her employer’s house simply for requesting her due salary.
Despite global outcry, the Saudi government continues to turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed against African domestic workers, while local recruitment agencies, in collaboration with corrupt politicians, sustain a modern-day slavery system.
This disturbing reality calls for immediate international intervention, legal action against human trafficking networks, and stricter monitoring of recruitment agencies to protect vulnerable women from further exploitation and death.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.