Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1115376,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1115376/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 57,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, Standing Order No.225(2)(b) requires the Speaker to report to the House any petition other than those presented by a Member. Further, Article 119 of the Constitution provides for the right of any person to petition Parliament to consider any matter within its authority, including petitions to the House to enact, amend or repeal any legislation. In this regard, I wish to report to the House that my office has received a Petition from Mr. Fredrick Gaya of ID No. 22729580, on behalf of the residents of Kojwach Location, Rachuonyo Sub-County in Homa Bay County, who are directly and indirectly aggrieved with the servitude subjected to Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Persian Gulf countries. Hon. Members, the petitioners state that in pursuit of earning livelihoods, many young Kenyan women who have been unable to find employment at home have moved to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States as domestic workers, mostly through recruitment agencies. The Petitioners state that, unfortunately, there has been an increase in the number of heart-breaking accounts of Kenyan domestic workers in various Gulf States being subjected to servitude and mistreatment of grave nature, with some of them being tortured to death. The petitioners have been moved by several cases of alleged mistreatment and killing of Kenyan domestic workers in the Gulf States, particularly the case of Ms. Caroline Aluoch Akiri who died in Saudi Arabia in May 2021 in what the deceased’s family believed could have been torture by the employer. They have also mentioned the cases of Ms. Waruguru Beatrice, Ms. Lucy Wambui, Ms. Maximilla, Ms. Murunga Faith Shimila, Ms. Wanja, Ms. Nancy Nyagoha Idah and Ms. Esther Wanjiku Thuku, among others, some of whom have reportedly been assaulted, gone missing or were killed. The petitioners are distressed that most employers in the Gulf region subject Kenyan domestic workers to torturous working conditions and deny them access to quality health services, clean water, food, proper housing and reasonable standards of sanitation. The petitioners aver that Article 21(1) of the Constitution places on the Government of Kenya the obligation to observe, respect, promote, fulfill and protect the rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill of Rights. They are persuaded that that State responsibility is not exclusive to Kenyans at home but also applies to those in the diaspora, as long as they hold Kenyan citizenship. They are, therefore, disturbed that despite the foregoing express provisions in the Constitution, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kenyan Embassies in the Gulf States have been reluctant The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}