Nairobi, November 3- More than 350 Kenyan workers seeking employment in Saudi Arabia have returned home after being denied entry over travel restrictions linked to Ebola concerns.
The workers, who reportedly held valid employment visas, were stranded at Sharjah Airport in the United Arab Emirates for four days before travelling back to Kenya. Their flight landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Monday, November 2.
The Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya (ASMAK) said approximately 350 workers were returning home, while another 150 remained in transit. The association warned that thousands of other jobseekers could also be affected.
The Kenyan government has since initiated diplomatic talks with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, seeking a review of the restrictions.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs told the two countries that Kenya had taken measures to contain the Ebola outbreak, adding that no new infections had been reported since October 19.
The restrictions have raised concerns over the livelihoods of Kenyans seeking employment opportunities in the Gulf regio
