In brief
The ongoing plight of Kenyan domestic workers in foreign lands highlights serious abuses not only by employers but also by their own government officials.
In 2020, Selestine Kemoli sought refuge at the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh after suffering severe abuse as a maid in Saudi Arabia. She contacted the labor attaché, only to be met with a shocking demand. "I will sleep with you, just the same way your boss has slept with you," said Robinson Juma Twanga, the embassy's labor attaché, as recounted by Kemoli, reflecting a disheartening pattern of abuse that many women have faced when seeking help abroad.Kemoli's harrowing experience is not an isolated case. Multiple women from different regions of Kenya reported similar distress when turning to embassy officials for assistance. Many said that upon fleeing abusive employers, they felt additional pressure from officials for sexual favors, money, or even instructions to engage in sex work as a way to afford a ticket home.Inquiries into these matters reveal a troubling reality: the exploitation does not merely stop with the employers but extends to those expected to protect these vulnerable workers. Lawyers advocating for these women have claims of numerous accounts stemming from multiple embassy officials, indicating a systemic issue of abuse and lack of support for Kenyan nationals facing dire situations abroad.This heartbreaking situation compels a pressing need for greater oversight and accountability within the diplomatic system, urging policymakers to ensure that embassy officials fulfill their protective roles rather than exacerbate the suffering of those they are meant to assist. As the voices of survivors rise, the call for change grows louder, demanding a safer, more accountable environment for all workers overseas.
