Enslaved and Desperate: Kenyan Domestic Help Seeks Escape from Iraq

A woman named Susan Wanjiku Macharia has reached out on social media, desperately requesting help.

Macharia, currently trapped in Karbala, Iraq, has made an impassioned plea for assistance to escape her dire situation. She describes enduring daily physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her employer, fearing for her life as the situation escalates. Macharia's ordeal began when she was recruited as a domestic worker hoping to improve her family's financial situation. However, her dreams of a better life quickly unravelled as she found herself subjected to severe mistreatment.

Her attempts to seek help from Al-Aldwaa Recruitment Agency, the organization that facilitated her employment, have been met with silence leaving her feeling abandoned and desperate. The distressing nature of Macharia's situation is unfortunately not unique. Her story is emblematic of a broader issue affecting many migrant workers in the region. Over the years, numerous reports have emerged detailing human rights violations and harsh working conditions experienced by foreign labourers, particularly those in domestic service roles.

Countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon have been frequent subjects of these concerning accounts. This ongoing crisis has prompted human rights organizations and activists to demand enhanced protections and support for migrant workers. Many of these individuals leave their home countries in pursuit of economic opportunities only to find themselves vulnerable to exploitation due to power imbalances and a lack of legal safeguards. The Kenyan government, in response to such cases, has faced increasing pressure to implement more robust measures to protect its citizens working abroad.

In 2021, Kenya's Ministry of Labour announced plans to establish a migrant workers' welfare fund aimed at assisting citizens facing difficulties overseas. However, the efficacy and implementation of such initiatives remain to be fully realized. Reports indicate that many recruitment agencies operate with minimal oversight, and some have been implicated in worker exploitation.