Over 350 Kenyans Spotted Stranded as Saudi Arabia Blocks Them from Entering the Country Over This

More than 350 Kenyan workers have been forced back home after Saudi Arabia denied them entry over the Ebola situation in Kenya, leaving them stranded for four days at Sharjah Airport in the United Arab Emirates.

The group landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at about 1:30 pm on Monday, November 2, 2026. They held valid work visas for Saudi Arabia. Several of them said they slept on the floor at Sharjah and received little food while waiting for a flight home.

One of the workers, Mary Njau, called the experience frustrating, saying they left Kenya expecting to start work but were treated badly on arrival. She urged the government to step in before their visas expire.

Saudi Arabia announced its measures on October 30 through the Saudi Press Agency. They include suspending travel by Saudi citizens to Kenya, halting the issuance of all visa categories for travellers departing from Kenya, and barring entry to anyone who has been in Kenya or another country with an active Ebola outbreak within 21 days before arrival. The rule applies even to those transiting through a third country.

The Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya (ASMAK) has asked Nairobi and Riyadh to open urgent diplomatic talks.

Assistant Secretary General Elab Muridi said about 150 workers were still in transit at the time of reporting, while documents for roughly 2,200 others had already been processed ahead of planned departures.

ASMAK Chair Francis Wahome said even recruitment partners in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries were shocked, and that the agencies have received no formal communication from the government.

Secretary General Monica Mwema said some workers with confirmed tickets were due to fly out within a day and that the agencies need clarity on how the 21-day rule applies.

The agencies have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage Saudi authorities directly.

Source; https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14sp2Zkzk85/

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