By James Wafula in Nairobi.
The Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recommended a temporary ban of recruitment and export of domestic workers to Saudi Arabia until adequate protection measures are put in place.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau told Members of Parliament that it had written to the Labour Ministry to impose a temporary blockade. “As additional measures to protect the rights and welfare of migrant workers are put in place, the ministry recommends for a temporary ban of recruitment and export of domestic workers to Saudi Arabia,” Mr Kamau said.
Mr Kamau said since a parliamentary committee visit in 2019 to Saudi Arabia, the situation had drastically worsened with increased death and distress cases. He said in 2019, three deaths were reported to the Kenyan embassy rising to 48 in 2020, and 41 so far this year. Distress cases rose from 88 in 2019/20 and 1,025 in 2020/21. “The statics indicate the dire reality that we face. It warrants bold and decisive action to curb further suffering of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
The developments came after a video went viral showing a Kenyan young mother breast – feeding dogs in Saudi Arabia which has caused a big storm on whether Kenyan domestic workers should continue going to Middle East for jobs.
Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has called on President William Ruto’s government to ban employment agencies overseeing migration of Kenyan workers to Saudi Arabia.
Atwoli said he received a disturbing video from a woman in Saudia Arabia, who alleged that her employer forced her to breastfeed their dogs.
“She left her husband and children in Kenya two months after giving birth. When they realized she can breastfeed, the employer gave her a job of breastfeeding puppies,” Atwoli told the media as he displayed a video of the alleged distressed woman breastfeeding.
The COTU boss called for intergovernmental diplomacy to address the plight of Kenyans in Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries.
“This is indirect slavery, I want to appeal to our government to go the way President Kibaki’s government under Phylis Kandie did. She banned all employment agencies in Kenya. Let this issue be a government-to-government priority. Let Kenya negotiate with Saudi Arabia on terms and conditions of service so that our people can do decent jobs and not a job of breastfeeding dogs,” he said.
Mr Atwoli said the inhumane actions and modern – day slavery being witnessed in Saudi Arabia are denying Kenyans dignity and respect.
“It denies us our own citizenship as Kenyans who are from a free and independent country. I want to appeal to government to ban all employment agencies and review issues relate to outside employment as advocated for by the International Labour Organization.
Atwoli says it would be better for Kenyans to remain as they are instead of losing dignity. He termed such actions as indirect slavery.
But Kenyan media has not been able to independently verify the authenticity of the video that went viral and is making rounds globally.
.Kenyan government has taken concerns from recent media reports highlighting cases of Kenyans in distress or having died in Saudi Arabia with some claiming mistreatment by their employers.
Kenya Cabinet Secretary for Labour Mr Simon Chelugui said in a statement September 16, 2022 that Kenya takes all reported cases seriously and will ensure each case is investigated through the relevant agencies.
