More than 350 Kenyan workers who travelled to Saudi Arabia for employment have been forced to return home after authorities denied them entry over concerns linked to Ebola cases in Kenya.
The workers, who had travelled with valid work visas, spent four days stranded at Sharjah Airport in the United Arab Emirates before boarding a flight back to Kenya. The plane landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at about 1.30 pm Kenyan time on Monday, November 2, 2026.
The returnees have asked the Kenyan government to intervene through diplomatic channels, warning that the disruption could affect their employment plans and leave them with expiring visas.
Saudi Arabia introduced an indefinite travel ban on arrivals from Kenya following an assessment of the Ebola situation. The measures, announced on October 30, 2026, through the Saudi Press Agency, include suspending travel by Saudi citizens to Kenya and halting the issuance of all visa categories for people travelling from the country.
The restrictions also bar entry to travellers who have stayed in Kenya or another country experiencing an active Ebola outbreak within the 21 days before their arrival. The rule applies even where travellers pass through a third country.
The measures build on health protocols first introduced in 2019 and strengthened in May 2026.
One of the affected workers, Mary Njau, described the experience at Sharjah Airport as frustrating and said the group had travelled with expectations of starting work.
“Tumerudi and it is very frustrating. We were stuck and stranded at Sharjah. Tulienda na matarajio lakini tukifika pale we were treated bad,” she said.
She appealed to the Kenyan government to address the matter before the workers’ visas expire. Other returnees reported limited meals and spending nights on airport floors.
The Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya (ASMAK) has called for urgent diplomatic engagement between Nairobi and Riyadh.
Assistant Secretary General Elab Muridi said more than 350 workers were returning, while about 150 others were still in transit. He added that documents for approximately 2,200 workers had already been processed, with the applicants expected to travel.
“Already, more than 350 workers are on their way back, and most of them are here. We estimate that about 150 are still in transit,” Elab Muridi, Assistant Secretary General of the Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya (ASMAK) said.
ASMAK Chair Francis Wahome said recruitment partners in Gulf Cooperation Council countries were also surprised by the restrictions. He said agencies had not received formal communication from the Kenyan government.
“Even our partners in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries were shocked. They have been calling us to ask what is happening. Everyone in the recruitment sector is seeking answers from colleagues and the government because we have not received any formal communication from the government,” Francis Wahome, Chair of ASMAK, said.
Secretary General Monica Mwema said the decision had disrupted confirmed bookings and scheduled departures, leaving recruiters seeking clarification on the 21-day restriction.
“We have people who are coming back because they were not allowed to enter Saudi Arabia. Others have confirmed tickets, with some scheduled to leave tonight and others tomorrow. We have been caught off guard and are seeking clarity on the 21-day restriction. What does it mean?” Monica Mwema, Secretary General of ASMAK, stated.
The agencies want the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage Saudi authorities and establish how the restrictions will affect workers whose travel arrangements are already in place.
The restrictions come as Kenya responds to nine confirmed cases of Bundibugyo-strain Ebola and two deaths. The cases have been linked to one cluster originating from an imported case involving a Kenyan man who travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi on October 3, 2026.
The Ministry of Health reported that Kenya had gone 10 days without recording a new infection as of October 30, 2026. It has also started releasing contacts who completed the required 21-day monitoring period.
Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni said the release of people under monitoring was being carried out progressively, with full clearance targeted around mid-November.
Kenyan workers and recruitment agencies have warned that prolonged restrictions could affect employment opportunities, trade and tourism. They want the two governments to reach an agreement that will allow affected workers to travel once the necessary health requirements are met.
Leave a Reply