Private employment agencies have urged the Kenyan Government to intensify diplomatic engagement with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to secure the lifting of Ebola-related travel restrictions, warning that more than 50,000 issued visas could expire before affected workers travel. The agencies say the restrictions are disrupting overseas employment opportunities and exposing job seekers, recruitment firms and other businesses to financial losses.
Speaking in Mombasa, Kenya Association of Private Employment Agencies (KAPEA) National Chairman Juma Omar Mwangala welcomed progress in containing the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. He commended Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Director-General of Health Dr Patrick Amoth for overseeing the tracing of all 135 identified contacts, the discharge of recovered patients and the release of individuals who had completed quarantine.
Mwangala said the disruption was affecting both Kenya and the destination countries, including Saudi employers and families who had already invested in recruitment processes and visa applications. He called on the Ministries of Labour and Foreign Affairs to sustain discussions with their Saudi counterparts, arguing that public health protection and the interests of both countries could be addressed through continued cooperation.
Agencies warn of impending visa expiry
Former KAPEA National Chairman Mwalimu Mwanguzo, who currently chairs the association’s Supervisory Committee, said recruitment agencies were facing mounting pressure as issued visas approached their expiry dates.
“Travelling is a process, not an event. Some visas now have only one or two weeks left before they expire,” Mwanguzo said.
He urged Health CS Duale to accelerate engagement with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, noting that Kuwait’s restrictions followed the Saudi decision. Mwanguzo also expressed concern that other Gulf countries, including Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, could introduce similar restrictions if the situation persisted.
He appealed to job seekers who had already secured visas and airline tickets to remain patient and maintain communication with their recruitment agencies. He further asked President William Ruto to intervene diplomatically, particularly to support Muslims planning to travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.
Travel disruption affects wider economy
Former association chairman Abdalla Mohammed Naim, a director at Naim Investments Limited, said the financial impact extended beyond private recruitment agencies. He cited expenses associated with passport applications, medical examinations, certificates of good conduct, transport and airline tickets among the costs affected by the disruption.
“Many sectors have lost money, and even the Government has lost revenue because there is no travelling,” Naim said.
He explained that the decision to lift the restrictions rests with Saudi authorities, whose public health agencies assess communicable disease risks and work with the World Health Organisation in determining the status of affected countries.
Naim cited Uganda’s experience as a possible indication that restrictions could eventually be lifted after improvements in its Ebola situation. He said recruitment agents in Uganda had informed him that they expected travel to resume after the country was declared Ebola-free.
Agencies appeal for continued disease containment
Naim said Kenya had recorded no new cases since the start of the 42-day monitoring period, adding that nine people who had recently been under quarantine had been released. He expressed hope that sustained disease containment efforts would help restore international travel.
“These decisions are not ours to make. If we continue to contain it well, God willing, the doors will open,” he said.
The agencies are now calling for sustained diplomatic engagement and clear communication to help affected workers and employers manage the uncertainty.
For Kenyan job seekers pursuing overseas employment, the situation highlights the importance of monitoring official travel advisories, visa validity and communication from authorised recruitment agencies before making further financial commitments.