Government has clarified that Kuwait has not imposed a new ban on Kenyan workers terming recent reports a misinterpretation.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, June 12 — The government has dismissed reports that Kuwait has imposed a new ban on Kenyan workers, clarifying that recent changes announced by Kuwaiti authorities do not amount to fresh restrictions on the recruitment of Kenyans.

Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime said reports suggesting that Kuwait had barred the recruitment of domestic workers from Kenya were based on a misinterpretation of a recent communication issued by the Gulf nation.

The clarification follows widespread media reports claiming that Kenya had been added to a list of countries from which domestic workers cannot be recruited into Kuwait.

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He noted Kenya voluntarily suspended the deployment of domestic workers to Kuwait nearly a decade ago, and that position remains unchanged.

“The recent communication by the Kuwaiti authorities does not constitute a new restriction on Kenya. Rather, it reflects the existing operational and regulatory framework governing domestic worker recruitment in Kuwait,” the statement said.

The Labour Ministry emphasized that the development should not be viewed as a new policy action targeting Kenya or Kenyan workers, but rather as a continuation of the long-standing status quo governing the domestic labour sector.

The government disclosed that Kenya and Kuwait are engaged in consultations aimed at establishing a bilateral framework to regulate the domestic labour sector.

Ongoing discussions are expected to develop mutually agreed procedures, safeguards and mechanisms to facilitate future cooperation.

The ministry further clarified that the restrictions apply only to domestic workers and do not affect other categories of Kenyan professionals seeking employment opportunities in Kuwait.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya