Kuwait has officially stopped the recruitment of domestic workers from Kenya. The new rules, which aim to tighten control over the country’s domestic labor sector, now allow hiring from just ten approved nations.
This means Kenyan housemaids, nannies, and other domestic staff can no longer get work permits under the new directive.
The approved list includes Ethiopia, the Philippines, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, South Africa, Benin, and Eritrea. Senegal is also on the list, but with a unique condition—only male workers from Senegal can be recruited.
Kenya is not alone in this ban. The country appears among 27 nations now restricted under the new rules. Others on the restricted list include Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Kuwaiti authorities explained that the changes are part of revised administrative procedures and stronger controls. Their goal is to improve oversight of the domestic labor market, which has seen complaints and legal disputes over the years.
For many Kenyan families, especially those who relied on jobs in Gulf countries, this move is a heavy blow. Remittances from domestic workers abroad have been a lifeline for thousands of households back home.
It remains unclear whether Kenya will push for diplomatic talks to reverse the decision. For now, anyone hoping to work as a domestic helper in Kuwait will have to come from one of the ten approved countries.
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