BBC investigations show that President William Ruto, his wife, his daughter, and several close allies are making money from the booming business of sending Kenyan workers to Saudi Arabia.
Ruto’s wife and daughter are major shareholders in the insurance company that most recruiting agencies are pushed to use. Many of these agencies say they are directed toward that insurer when processing workers. That means the more workers Kenya exports, the more the company earns.
Several of Ruto’s allies also own or are linked to recruiting companies. Some of these companies sit at the centre of the labour export chain. They earn about $1,000 for every worker they send abroad before expenses. With thousands of workers leaving each month, the profits add up quickly.
The government has also made policy changes that reduce costs for these companies. Training for domestic workers was cut from 26 days to 14 days, dropping the cost from about $200 to $100 per worker. This single change saves large agencies hundreds of thousands of dollars when they process thousands of recruits.
Meanwhile, Kenya has adopted a “low-cost, high-volume” strategy. The government wants to send 1 million workers abroad every year, up from about 500,000. More workers means more revenue for the agencies, and more insurance business for the First Family’s company.
But this strategy comes with a harsh reality for the workers. Under the Kenya–Saudi Arabia deal, Kenyan women earn 40% less than Filipino domestic workers doing the same job. They also get fewer protections and fewer escape options in emergencies.
Human rights groups have long documented abuse in Saudi households, such as beatings, rape, and deaths. Yet the push to export more workers continues.
At one point, Kenya’s Labour Secretary even compared Kenyan workers to dogs, saying that cheaper labour wins in the global market. This comment shocked many, who felt it revealed how little value the government places on workers’ dignity and safety.
Around 10% of recruiting companies are openly owned by politically connected individuals. Lobbyists say the real number is much higher because many officials hide ownership under other names.
The result is a system where the powerful benefit the most. Agencies earn more. Politically connected owners profit. The First Family’s insurance company grows. And the government gains from rising remittances.
But the workers, the people doing the hardest jobs, carry the risk, endure the abuse, and get paid the least.
By Vivian K.