More than 350 Kenyan workers who travelled to Saudi Arabia for employment have been forced to return home after Saudi authorities denied them entry over concerns about Ebola cases in Kenya.
The workers, who reportedly held valid employment visas, spent four days stranded at Sharjah Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before boarding a flight back to Kenya.
Their plane landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at approximately 1.30 pm on Monday, November 2, 2026.
The returnees have appealed to the Kenyan government to intervene diplomatically, warning that the unexpected disruption could cost them their jobs and leave them with visas nearing expiry.
Saudi Arabia Imposes Indefinite Travel Ban on Kenya
Saudi Arabia introduced an indefinite travel ban on arrivals from Kenya following an assessment of the Ebola situation.
The restrictions, announced through the Saudi Press Agency on October 30, 2026, include suspending travel by Saudi citizens to Kenya and halting the issuance of all visa categories for people travelling from the country.
The measures also prohibit entry to travellers who have stayed in Kenya or another country experiencing an active Ebola outbreak within the 21 days preceding their arrival.
The restriction applies even to passengers who travel through a third country before reaching Saudi Arabia.
The latest measures build on health protocols initially introduced in 2019 and strengthened in May 2026.
One of the affected workers, Mary Njau, described the experience at Sharjah Airport as frustrating, saying the group had travelled with hopes of starting their new jobs.
“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.
Njau appealed to the government to intervene before the workers’ visas expire.
Other returnees also reported difficulties during their four-day stay at the airport, including limited meals and spending nights on airport floors.
Recruitment Agencies Demand Urgent Government Intervention
The Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya (ASMAK) has urged the Kenyan government to engage Saudi authorities and resolve the uncertainty surrounding the travel restrictions.
Assistant Secretary General Elab Muridi said more than 350 workers were returning to Kenya, while approximately 150 others remained in transit.
He further disclosed that documents for about 2,200 workers had already been processed, with the applicants expected to travel to Saudi Arabia.
“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,” Muridi said.
ASMAK Chair Francis Wahome said recruitment partners in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries had also been caught off guard by the announcement.
He explained that recruitment agencies had received inquiries from their international partners but 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,” Wahome said.
ASMAK Secretary General Monica Mwema said the restrictions had disrupted confirmed travel bookings and scheduled departures.
She added that some workers were expected to travel on November 2 and November 3, leaving recruitment agencies uncertain about how the 21-day restriction would affect their clients.
“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?” Mwema stated.
The recruitment agencies want the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to urgently engage Riyadh to clarify the restrictions and establish arrangements for workers whose travel documents and bookings had already been processed.
Ebola Outbreak in Kenya Behind Saudi Arabia’s Decision
The travel restrictions come as Kenya responds to an outbreak of Bundibugyo-strain Ebola, which has recorded nine confirmed cases and two deaths.
The cases have been linked to a cluster originating from an imported infection involving a Kenyan man who travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), through Uganda, before arriving in Nairobi on October 3, 2026.
According to the Ministry of Health, Kenya had gone 10 days without recording a new infection as of October 30, 2026.
The government has also started progressively releasing contacts who have completed the required 21-day monitoring period.
Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni said the process was ongoing, with full clearance targeted around mid-November.
The outbreak has raised concerns beyond public health, with recruitment agencies warning that prolonged travel restrictions could disrupt overseas employment opportunities and affect trade and tourism.
Kenyan workers and recruitment agencies are now calling for diplomatic engagement between Nairobi and Riyadh to establish conditions under which affected workers can resume their journeys once the necessary health requirements are met.
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