More than 350 Kenyan workers returned home after Saudi Arabia denied them entry.
Workers with valid visas returned to Nairobi after four days at Sharjah Airport and urged both governments to resolve the travel dispute.
Saudi entry restrictions linked to Ebola concerns have forced more than 350 Kenyan workers to return home. Authorities denied them entry despite their valid work visas, disrupting plans to start jobs in the Kingdom.
The workers arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at about 1:30pm on Monday, November 2. Before returning, they spent four days stranded at Sharjah Airport in the United Arab Emirates during arrangements for their journey home.
One returnee, Mary Njau, described the experience as frustrating and appealed for government intervention. She said the group had travelled with high hopes of beginning new jobs but instead faced disappointment.
What the Saudi entry restrictions cover
Saudi Arabia announced the measures on October 30, suspending travel by its citizens to Kenya. It also halted the issuance of all visa categories to travellers from Kenya.
The Kingdom barred anyone who had visited Kenya within the 21 days before arrival. The same rule covers visits to other countries experiencing active Ebola outbreaks, including journeys through third countries.
Meanwhile, the returning workers urged the Kenyan and Saudi governments to resolve the dispute. They warned that prolonged restrictions could disrupt their employment plans and leave their visas at risk of expiry. For the affected group, holding valid work visas had not secured entry under the new measures.
Kenya seeks review through diplomatic talks
Kenya challenged the decision through a diplomatic note, calling the restrictions disproportionate and unsupported by scientific evidence. It therefore asked Riyadh to review and lift the measures.
The government maintained that the nine confirmed Ebola cases recorded at the time belonged to one cluster. It linked that cluster to an imported infection and said there was no evidence of community transmission.
Nairobi has since opened talks with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to seek a review of the restrictions. Both countries agreed to relay Kenya’s concerns to their governments and arrange technical discussions.
The dispute also affects a major destination for Kenyan workers seeking employment abroad. Government estimates put the Kenyan population living and working in Saudi Arabia above 350,000 as of July 2026.
For suspected Ebola emergencies, the Ministry of Health’s reporting channels include the toll-free number 719 and *719#. Members of the public can also contact the ministry through WhatsApp on 0700 719 719.
