Women MPs Demand a Ban on Export of Kenyan Domestic Workers to the Middle East

Female MPs have called for a ban on the deployment of Kenyan domestic workers to the Middle East until the government guarantees their safety and negotiates better terms for them.

Through the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (Kewopa), the MPs said it is regrettable that young Kenyan girls who travel to Gulf countries in search of greener pastures are subjected to ill-treatment while others return home in coffins.

“As Kewopa we are calling on Government authorities to ban the deployment of domestic workers to the Middle East until protection measures are taken because Kenyan workers do not deserve such kind of cruelty,” said Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, who is the Chairperson of Kewopa.

“Kewopa today joins fellow Kenyans in condemning assaults and abuse witnessed in the Middle East towards Kenyan female domestic workers. These acts not only amplify violence against women but also depict the sadistic nature of the human race.”

The MPs want the government to provide data on the actual number of Kenyan women who are currently employed in the Middle East and the measures being taken to protect them from further mistreatment.

They also want the National Employment Authority (NEA) to provide a list of all recruitment agencies and the number of girls they have deployed to Saudi Arabia.

“Most girls are forced to work in multiple homes and for longer hours and are denied enough sleep. Most employment agencies have also failed to protect the rights of the Kenyan women by giving out false reassurance to the victims’ families. Most workers are neither allowed to seek medical attention nor allowed to leave the country since their passports have been confiscated by the so-called agency officials,” Wamuchomba added.

Moiben MP Prof. Phyllis Bartoo termed the treatment of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia as modern slavery, saying a ban is the only solution that the country has to address the problem.

“This is slavery reloaded. We have to stop this nonsense once and for all. We have to regulate this matter so that before these girls leave Kenya they will work in good conditions,” she stated.

Nominated MP Veronicah Maina said, “I am urging our young girls not to take any flight before the government negotiates with the Government of Saudi Arabia.”