Kenya To Build Safe Houses In S’Arabia For Domestic Workers

The Kenyan government said it will work on setting up safe houses to host domestic workers in Saudi Arabia amid increased reports of physical and mental abuse – and even deaths – before they can be repatriated back to the east African country.

Authorities in Kenya have reportedly expressed their intention to build safe houses solely for abused domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, where cases of abuses against domestic workers are often reported.

The Kenyan government said it wants to “safeguard” workers who have been subjected to mental and physical abuse in the Gulf kingdom. Reports have also suggested that some of the abuse has resulted in a number of domestic workers’ deaths.

Kenyan Labour Minister Simon Chelugui said that Sh70 million will be allocated for the project, as Kenyan nationals who experience abuse while serving in Saudi Arabia “need protection until their repatriation can be managed”.

The Kenyan government said it will also adhere to the strict enforcement of worker data registration with all overseas recruitment agencies known to the authorities, before being sent to work overseas.

According to official statements, the number of Kenyans working and living in Saudi Arabia has doubled over the past three years, reaching nearly 100,000 Kenyans, most of whom are domestic workers.

However, due to concerns about workers’ welfare and safety, Kenya’s foreign ministry proposed a temporary ban on domestic workers being recruited and taken to the Saudi kingdom in September last year.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau said that conditions for domestic workers had drastically deteriorated since 2019, with increased report of worker deaths.