Kenyan Woman Shares Her Transition from Saudi Maid to Law Student

Kenyan woman Hazel Jepkoech has shared how she went from working as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia to pursuing a bachelor's degree in law at Kabarak University.

In a recent interview, Jepkoech shares her inspiring story and sheds light on the challenges faced by many women seeking opportunities abroad. She affirms the importance of education in reshaping lives and admits that her long-held dream of becoming a lawyer was fraught with obstacles. The collapse of her marriage and the subsequent failure of her small hotel business in 2020 served as catalysts for her decision to seek employment abroad. This choice was a stark departure from her earlier life where she enjoyed relative comfort due to her mother's employment at Egerton University.

Tragically, her mother's untimely passing during Jepkoech's final year of secondary school disrupted the support system that had once promised a hopeful future. Driven by the need to support her three children and reignite her ambitions, Jepkoech seized an opportunity that many might consider daunting. She decided to work as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia, facilitated by an agent who covered all necessary expenses due to the high demand for workers at the time.

During her two-year contract in Saudi Arabia, Jepkoech adopted a mindset that helped her navigate cultural and work-related challenges. Drawing from her experiences, Jepkoech now partners with an agency to train women preparing for work in the Gulf region. She stresses the importance of thorough research before embarking on such journeys, particularly for those with pre-existing health conditions. Jepkoech advises new workers to request Wi-Fi access upon arrival to maintain communication with their families, ensuring their well-being and whereabouts are known.

Jepkoech's advocacy extends beyond individual preparation to addressing systemic issues faced by Kenyan workers in the Middle East. She criticizes the Kenyan Embassy in Saudi Arabia for inadequately assisting citizens in distress, noting that many find themselves detained in deportation centres without access to help in retrieving their passports or returning home. She calls for the establishment of consulate offices in key Saudi Arabian cities to provide necessary services closer to where workers reside.