350 Kenyan Workers Return Home After Saudi Arabia Blocks Entry Despite Valid Work Visas

More than 350 Kenyan workers seeking employment in Saudi Arabia have been forced to return home after authorities denied them entry over concerns surrounding Kenya’s Ebola outbreak.

The workers, who had travelled with valid employment visas, spent four days stranded at Sharjah Airport in the United Arab Emirates before boarding a flight back to Kenya.

They arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at approximately 1:30 pm on Monday, November 2, 2026.

The unexpected development has left the affected jobseekers worried about their employment opportunities, financial losses and the possibility of their visas expiring before the situation is resolved.

One of the affected workers, Mary Njau, described the experience as frustrating, saying the group had travelled with high expectations of beginning their new jobs.

She appealed to the Kenyan government to intervene diplomatically and engage Saudi authorities to help resolve the dispute.

Some returnees reportedly complained about the difficult conditions they experienced while stranded at the airport, including limited meals and sleeping on airport floors.

The workers now face uncertainty over when they will be able to travel again and take up the employment opportunities they had secured.

The Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya has called for urgent government intervention, warning that the restrictions could disrupt the plans of thousands of other Kenyan jobseekers.

ASMAK Assistant Secretary General Elab Muridi said more than 350 workers were returning home, while approximately 150 others remained in transit.

The association also revealed that documents for about 2,200 additional workers had already been processed, raising concerns that more applicants could be affected if the restrictions remain in place.

ASMAK Chair Francis Wahome said recruitment agencies and their international partners had been caught off guard by the decision, with many seeking clarification from the relevant authorities.

Secretary General Monica Mwema added that confirmed bookings and scheduled departures had been disrupted, leaving recruiters uncertain about how the restrictions would affect workers with approved visas.

Saudi Arabia announced the travel restrictions on October 30, 2026, suspending visa issuance for travellers from Kenya and restricting entry for people who had stayed in Kenya or another country experiencing an active Ebola outbreak during the preceding 21 days.

The measures have raised concerns about the impact on Kenya’s overseas employment programme.

Kenyan recruitment agencies are now urging the government to engage Saudi authorities urgently and establish clear guidelines that could allow affected workers to resume their journeys once the necessary health requirements are met.

For the hundreds of Kenyans who had hoped to start new jobs abroad, the immediate priority is finding a solution before their employment opportunities and travel documents are jeopardised.

https://peopledaily.digital/news/350-kenyan-workers-denied-entry-to-saudi-arabia-after-latest-travel-ban?fbclid=IwY2xjawVWvIZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAXNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABH1bTxZFVV04IQihOfyf0XhuILXWQCrwPHXWowhanhxaEqOOXpOt8yupivuxj_aem_vJ0VRpNFj2dg1t3fJvkYAA

Samsupdates feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com