Amnesty International criticises Kenya's Saudi envoy for downplaying domestic worker abuse report

Amnesty International Executive Director Houghton Irungu. [File, Standard]

Amnesty International has urged the Kenyan government to act after its ambassador to Saudi Arabia dismissed a report detailing abuse of 72 Kenyan domestic workers.

The organisation criticised Ambassador Mohammed Ruwange for calling the findings "exaggerated" and "unverified" in a Facebook post published on Saturday, May 17.

The post was a response to Amnesty's report released on Monday, May 12, titled Saudi Arabia: Locked in, left out: The hidden lives of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.

"Characterising these testimonies as 'exaggerated' or 'unverified' not only undermines these women's experiences, but it also contributes to the very cycle of silencing and invisibility that enables abuse to persist," said Irungu Houghton, Amnesty International Kenya's executive director.

He said the government had a duty to treat the claims with the seriousness they deserve rather than dismissing them.

The report documented widespread labour violations against Kenyan women working as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, including restrictions on movement, lack of legal protection and cases of physical and psychological abuse. Amnesty noted that reforms introduced in Saudi Arabia remain insufficient and often exclude domestic workers entirely.

Amnesty called on Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua to provide a more detailed and constructive response beyond his initial remarks.

"We also call on the National Assembly and Senate to demand the bilateral agreement between Saudi Arabia and Kenya be made available for parliamentary and public scrutiny," said Houghton.

He noted that the government must end the ongoing abuses, which continue with impunity.

The criticism comes amid Kenya's continued push to send workers abroad despite increasing concerns over their welfare. Amnesty said the government must ensure proper safeguards are in place to guarantee safe and dignified work for all Kenyans working overseas.