Kenyan Embassy Dismisses Claims of New Kuwait Ban on Domestic Workers

The Kenyan Embassy in Kuwait has rejected reports that the Gulf state has introduced a new ban on the recruitment of Kenyan domestic workers, saying the claims are based on a misunderstanding of recent directives issued by Kuwaiti authorities.

In a statement released on 11 June, the embassy said Kuwait had not imposed any new restrictions specifically affecting Kenya. It explained that the recent directives relate to revised procedures for the recruitment of domestic workers in general and should not be interpreted as a ban on Kenyan workers.

The embassy noted that Kenya suspended the deployment of domestic workers to Kuwait nearly a decade ago and that the policy remains in force. It said this voluntary suspension, rather than any action taken by Kuwait, is the reason Kenyan domestic workers are not currently being deployed to the country.

The clarification comes amid ongoing scrutiny of labour migration policies in the Gulf region, particularly in the domestic work sector. The embassy stressed that the restrictions apply only to domestic workers and do not affect Kenyans seeking employment in other industries.

Many Kenyan nationals continue to work in Kuwait in sectors including healthcare, construction and hospitality. The embassy said Kenyan workers remain valued for their professionalism and strong work ethic.

Kenya and Kuwait are continuing discussions on a bilateral agreement that would establish clear rules and protections for the recruitment of domestic workers. If concluded, the framework could allow the resumption of worker deployment under agreed safeguards and regulatory standards.

For now, the embassy maintains that there has been no new ban and that employment opportunities for Kenyans in non-domestic sectors remain unchanged. The embassy said it remains committed to supporting safe and orderly labour migration through continued cooperation with both Kenyan and Kuwaiti authorities and urged the public to rely on accurate information regarding labour mobility arrangements.