'Save us from S. Arabia nightmare': Kenyan women reveal Saudi abuse

An abused woman trying to defend herself. [Courtesy/iStock]

Kenyan women working as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia have shared harrowing accounts of abuse, including sexual assault, at the hands of their employers, according to a report by Amnesty International.

The report, titled Locked In, Left Out: The Hidden Lives of Kenyan Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia, documents the experiences of at least 72 women who suffered severe exploitation under the country's notorious kafala (sponsorship) system.

In the report, the victims said recruiters sold them a dream of prosperity, only for them to end up in a nightmare of severe abuses. Most were subjected to forced labour, racism, isolation, and abuse, both verbal and physical.

According to the report, many women were forced to work for 16 hours or more each day, often without a single day off for months-or even years. Many were confined to their employers' homes and denied any contact with the outside world.

"They told us we were going to work in companies as cleaners," said one woman, whose identity has been withheld for her safety. "But when I arrived, I was sent to work in four homes as a domestic worker."

Nearly all of the women reported having their passports confiscated upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, trapping them in abusive conditions. Despite repeated reports of mistreatment, no employers have been held accountable, Amnesty notes.

Some of the most disturbing accounts include reports of sexual violence. "Some were raped by their male employers and their sons," the report states. One woman recounted an incident where her employer attempted to assault her: "He came from behind and lifted my dress. I fought him off and told him I came only to work. He tried to give me money, but I refused."

Others described extreme emotional and physical abuse, including being slapped, spat on, or locked alone in houses for days with little or no food. "I have no freedom-once you are inside, you never go out. It felt like prison," said one.

Food deprivation was a recurring theme. Several women said they were forced to eat leftovers, even during Ramadan, regardless of whether they were also fasting. "They would eat first and give us what was left," said one woman. "Even though we were also Muslim, it didn't matter because we were black."

Another added: "I used to sleep in a storeroom that was more like an attic. There was a water tank and a small bed."

Racist and degrading language was common. The women reported being routinely insulted with words such as "hayawan" (animal), "khaddama" (servant), and "sharmouta" (prostitute). Some said they were referred to as "monkeys" or "baboons" because of their skin colour. Others were made to use separate utensils and were accused of poor hygiene, also attributed to their race.

"They called us monkeys. The children or the wife of the employer would say it because we are black," said one woman.

Many of the women also said they were referred to as "shaghala", a term implying they were bought and owned, akin to modern-day slavery.

The Amnesty report sheds light on the systemic failures that allow such abuse to persist. At the centre of the issue is Saudi Arabia's kafala system, which ties migrant workers' legal status to their employers-effectively leaving them with no legal recourse in cases of mistreatment.

The organisation has called for urgent reforms, including the abolition of the kafala system, regulation of recruitment agencies, and stronger protections for migrant workers.

The testimonies of these Kenyan women paint a chilling picture of exploitation and neglect, calling attention to the urgent need for action by both the Kenyan and Saudi governments to safeguard the rights and dignity of migrant workers.