A New York Times report reveals that at least 274 Kenyan workers have died in Saudi Arabia over five years predominantly from non-hazardous jobs. Many migrants experience severe abuse, including unpaid wages and physical harm, yet their deaths are often deemed from natural causes. The investigation exposes heightened abuses sustained by workers amid complicity from local authorities and staffing agencies in both Kenya and Uganda.
In the past five years, a reported 274 Kenyan workers, predominantly women, have died in Saudi Arabia while engaged in non-hazardous occupations. This information was presented in a recent report by the New York Times. Similarly, Uganda has also reported numerous worker fatalities in the Gulf nation, but lacks official figures due to governmental non-disclosure.
Every year, thousands of women from both Uganda and Kenya migrate to Saudi Arabia for domestic roles such as housekeeping and childcare. Many of these women return with traumatic experiences of unpaid wages, detention, abuse, and in some cases, fatalities.
Autopsy reports for the deceased frequently showed signs of physical trauma, including burns and electric shock injuries; however, Saudi authorities generally classified these deaths as occurring from “natural causes.” A distressing example includes the case of Kenyan housekeeper Eunice Achieng, who was found dead after reporting threats on her life—her death was similarly deemed natural by officials.
The investigation also highlighted the case of Ugandan worker Aisha Meeme, whose autopsy revealed severe trauma, yet her demise was also classified as natural by Saudi officials. These instances reflect a pattern of workplace abuse and systemic failures in protecting migrant workers.
Faridah Nassanga, another survivor from Uganda, recounted her harrowing experience of rape and abuse, after which she was sent back to Uganda upon becoming pregnant. Furthermore, the investigation indicated that many influential individuals in Kenya, Uganda, and Saudi Arabia are complicit in the mistreatment of migrant workers, as they own staffing firms that neglect workers’ rights.
The report further disclosed that various members of the Saudi royal family have vested interests in these recruitment agencies. In contrast, some countries have successfully negotiated agreements to safeguard their migrant workers’ rights in Saudi Arabia, while Kenya and Uganda have not made similar advancements. In response, a spokesperson from Kenya’s presidency indicated that measures are being implemented to enhance the protection of workers and regulate recruitment practices.
The alarming number of Kenyan workers’ deaths in Saudi Arabia, coupled with the issues of mistreatment and exploitation of migrant workers, highlights significant systemic failures in labor protection. Despite the evident abuse and distress experienced by workers, official responses remain inadequate. While insider complicity and failures in political action persist, there is hope as the Kenyan government recognizes the need for reform to safeguard its citizens abroad.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
