For thousands of Kenyans working abroad, Qatar, to be precise, the promise of retaining the job comes with a lot of rules and uncertainty. Now, unverified reports of HIV+ workers facing deportation have surfaced.
Recently, there have been claims online suggesting that hundreds of Kenyans living and working in Qatar are facing deportation after testing positive for HIV. The reports, originating from diaspora-focused blogs and social media accounts, allege that over 200 Kenyans are at risk of being sent back home on medical grounds.
Though these stories have attracted a lot of attention both in Kenya and the diaspora community, it is important to note that these claims have not remained unverified. More trusted sources, such as the diaspora media, human rights, or the Qatari/ Kenyan government, have not issued an official statement regarding the claims.
Some Kenyan bloggers, such as DJ Mbayaz have posted on their TikTok claiming that all the Kenyans who are being deported went there while they were negative, claiming that they contracted it in Qatar, hence the deportation seems unfair.
This has raised wider questions about the health policies in the Gulf, the human rights of migrant workers, and the persistent stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. Advocacy groups stress the need for diplomacy.
“If these reports are true, the Kenyan government has a duty to protect its citizens abroad, while also engaging with Qatar on the importance of upholding human rights,” one Nairobi-based HIV activist told this writer.
Qatar, like several other countries, has always required a mandatory medical screening, including checks for tuberculosis, hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS, for incoming migrants before issuing residency permits.
If one is found positive for any of the above, they are automatically denied work permits. The human rights organization has criticized these policies as they don’t align with the international standards on non-discrimination of people living with HIV.
What remains unclear is how these rules apply to migrant workers who contract the disease while already living in Qatar.
Whether or not the reported deportations are taking place, the controversy highlights an ongoing tension.
It underlines how stigma is continuing to shape policies in ways that can harm public health. The conversations have been triggered about how migrant workers with HIV are being treated.
Until official clarification emerges, what is clear is that the issue has struck a nerve with Kenyans both at home and in the diaspora.
Written by Joy Mbunge, TV47
