Recent research reported that expatriate nurses’ mental well-being is exacerbated by job insecurity and litigation. Similar reports indicate long working hours, coupled with being away from home, are the biggest contributors to mental disorders among expatriates.
The World Health Organisation has regularly reported that migrant workers are almost twice as likely to experience mental health disorders compared to non-migrant populations. According to WHO’s reports, factors including separation from family, language and cultural barriers, and limited access to health services may be contributing to mental health issues. Despite the key roles migrant workers play in the economies of host countries, they often remain excluded from national mental health systems.
These challenges are presently relevant among Kenyans working in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the Middle East in general, where there has been an increasing demand for migrant labour, including skilled employment as well as domestic and manual labour migration over the past decades.
Kenyans are among millions of migrant workers employed in the Gulf. According to Amnesty International, nearly 4 million migrants work as domestic helps in Saudi Arabia; among these are 150,000 Kenyans. However, this number might just be the tip of the iceberg, as there might be thousands of undocumented Kenyans working in different unskilled sectors in the Gulf.
Kenya’s Ministry of Labour estimates that there are over 416,000 Kenyan nationals currently working in the Gulf countries. The majority are employed as domestic workers, cleaners, security guards, drivers and construction labourers—jobs characterised by long hours, low pay and in many cases, stringent sponsorship conditions.
In 2023, Equidem, an organisation based in the United Kingdom, surveyed Kenyan domestic workers. The survey result showed that 41per cent of these workers suffered from anxiety, depression and stress. The main causes of these mental health conditions were documented as long hours of work, extraneous working conditions and loneliness.
Many of these workers operate in environments that may have limited access to communication, days off work may be irregular, and there might be inadequate social interaction. These factors combine to create conditions that heighten psychological vulnerabilities.
Despite all these risks, many countries that supply migrant workers are ill-equipped to help their citizens deal with mental health disorders. Although the formation of a dedicated ministry for the affairs of Kenyan expatriates is a step in the right direction, support with mental health services may still be almost non-existent.
While the Kenyan government maintains embassies and consulates in all Gulf countries, these missions may be under-resourced and can often be overwhelmed. For example, in 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recorded over 1,500 distress calls from Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia alone.
The complaints ranged from unfavourable working conditions to reports of mental breakdowns. The majority of the cases were related to female domestic workers running away from their employers.
The safe houses operated by the Kenyan missions in
Riyadh and Dubai may not be adequate, as demand may exceed capacity. Furthermore,
long-term psychosocial care is rarely provided. In many instances, returnees
arrive back home saddled with bad experiences, and there may be little support
for reintegration.
In many African countries, Kenya included, mental health remains a taboo subject. This is exacerbated by the fact that migrant workers are often viewed as financial providers; thus, their struggles are overshadowed by societal expectations placed upon them to be instant successes and shoulder family needs.
This cultural burden and inherent stigma of mental disorders contribute to a climate of emotional suppression. For example, a 2022 International Organization for Migration assessment report highlighted that only 10 per cent of East African migrant workers who experienced mental distress sought any form of help, whether professional or community-based.
Therefore, it is highly probable that many Kenyan workers remain silent even when confronted by severe psychological distress abroad. Indeed, it is not surprising to find that many keep remitting money to loved ones back home while privately battling depression, burnout and, in some tragic cases, suicidal tendencies.
Like many labour-sending countries, Kenya has
signed bilateral agreements with countries in the Gulf to help improve the
condition of its nationals abroad. However, these agreements are mainly focused
on wages, recruitment practices and repatriation protocols. Mental health
provisions are still not getting addressed in relation to most standard
contracts or support frameworks.
Although pre-departure training that is given to migrant workers includes basic information about labour rights, cultural norms and emergency procedures, mental health needs are not adequately addressed. In its review of 2022, the National Employment Authority found that fewer than five per cent of licensed training institutions offer structured modules on mental health awareness, coping strategies for life abroad and the need for emotional preparedness.
It is well known that expatriate remittances play a
big part in Kenya’s economy. For example, in 2023, remittances from the Kenyan
diaspora reached $4.2 billion. The Gulf region accounts for a significant
share of these vital foreign inflows. Sadly, while the economic benefits are applauded,
the cost borne by the people sending these funds, especially in psychological
terms, is rarely highlighted or acknowledged.
Therefore, the Kenyan government must shift its framework of labour exportation from one that is guided purely by economic terms to one that is anchored on the well-being of migrant workers. Policy interventions could include:
- Mental health screening and resilience in pre-departure programmes
- Ensuring that there are mental health officers in countries with a high volume of migrant workers in the Gulf, for example, Saudi Arabia
- Creating confidential hotlines and counselling platforms in both
host and returnee communities
- Mainstreaming anti-stigma campaigns targeting migrant families
and recruitment agencies
Working abroad brings an economic lifeline for thousands of Kenyan families and is a vital pillar in the country’s foreign exchange income. However, this important lifeline comes with an emotional burden that remains unaddressed—mental health and psychological disorders.
Kenya has positioned itself as a labour-exporting country. This policy change comes with a responsibility to ensure that its citizens’ mental health issues are included in policies and implemented. Expatriate workers are not just remittance machines; they are human beings whose psychological well-being deserves recognition, respect and support.
Kalmey is a lecturer and consultant at Oxus Management Consultants
