Thousands of Kenyan job seekers seeking employment opportunities in the Gulf could be affected after Kuwait banned the recruitment of domestic workers from Kenya and 26 other countries under new labour regulations.
According to the notice, the decision followed assessments and recommendations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the Public Authority for Manpower.
Kuwait Bans Recruitment of Domestic Workers From Kenya and 26 Other Countries
Under the new rules, recruitment of domestic workers, both male and female, will only be permitted from 10 countries. The approved countries are South Africa, Benin, Senegal (for male workers only), Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, and Nepal.
The directive also states that recruitment procedures will now be processed through governorate-level service centres as part of efforts to streamline applications and improve oversight.
Kenya is among 27 countries from which recruitment has been prohibited. Other affected African countries include Uganda, Nigeria, Togo, Malawi, Chad, Djibouti, Niger, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
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Also on the list are Gambia, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Madagascar, and Bhutan.
Close to 3,500 Kenyans are currently working in Kuwait, according to data from the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
The move comes even as the government continues to promote labour export, with more than 100,000 Kenyans working abroad in sectors such as domestic work, construction, healthcare, and hospitality.
What Informed Kuwait’s Decision
Officials said the revised measures are part of Kuwait’s broader efforts to regulate domestic worker recruitment and strengthen oversight of the sector through updated administrative procedures and controls.
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According to the circular, some of the restrictions apply specifically to female domestic workers, while others cover broader recruitment categories.
The ministry said diplomatic and administrative considerations were taken into account when compiling the updated list, noting that some of the affected countries maintain official representation in Kuwait, while others do not.
The directive has been distributed to residency affairs departments and relevant service centres across the country for implementation, with officials confirming that the new regulations are already in effect.
