Under the auspices of the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (Kewopa), the legislators said the ban would allow the two countries to put in place adequate protection measures for Kenyans in Saudi.
Led by Kewopa chairperson Muthoni Wamuchomba (Guthunguri), the leaders also urged Kenyan girls not to leave the country until a better working arrangement is negotiated by the two nations.
They said the situation of Kenyan workers has drastically worsened in the Gulf country and until the issue is addressed, no Kenyan should be shipped to Saudi.
The MPs are Phyllis Bartoo (Moiben), Veronica Maina (nominated), Liza Chelule (Nakuru MP) and Dorothy Muthoni (nominated).
Kewopa decried the recent acts of sexual violence, physical and mental abuse against migrant workers in Middle East countries.
“We call on the government to ban the deployment of Kenyan domestic workers to the Middle East until protection measures are taken because they do not deserve such kind of cruelty,” Wamuchomba said.
They also demanded a list of registered recruitment agencies indicating the number of Kenyans each has taken to Saudi.
Wamuchomba claimed some agencies corrupted their way and did not deposit the required amount to guarantee a return of the workers in case of mistreatment.
“Very few had deposited money to guarantee because of corruption. We are not going to allow our girls to be slaves in the name of looking for jobs,” the Githunguri MP said.
“Money is not as important as the life and dignity of our people.”
Bartoo said the treatment of Kenyan girls in Saudi Arabia is modern-day slavery which must be condemned.
The leaders spoke on Tuesday against a backdrop of increased mistreatment of migrant workers, especially from Kenya origin.
Most of the workers have been deprived of their freedom of expression and speech as they are not allowed to access any forms of communication from the outside world including their relatives.
In some instances, they are forced to work in multiple homes and for longer hours and are denied enough sleep.
Most employment agencies have also failed to protect the rights of Kenyan women by giving out false reassurance to the victims’ families.
Maina said the ill-treatment meted on Kenyan workers is unfortunate and a serious breach of labour laws guiding the worker/employer relationship.
“I urge our young girls not to take any flight before the government negotiates with the government of Saudi Arabia,” she said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
