NAIROBI, Sept. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The Kenyan government on Wednesdayevening confirmed the release of its three nationals who had been kidnapped in Iraq more than a month ago, saying they will return home soon.

    "Today we have received wonderful news of the release of our brothers who had been kidnapped in Iraq," government spokesman Alfred Mutua told a news conference in Nairobi.

    According to Mutua, the abducted Kenyans along with one Egyptian and three Indians were released after their employer the Kuwaiti company paid half a million US dollars.

    The Kenyan government did not pay anything, he added.

    He said the three Kenyans just finished taking showers and eating a well-balanced meal in the company of the country's envoy,Ambassador Yusuf Nzibo, in a Kuwait hotel.

    "The men are in good health, good spirits but very tired, according to Nzibo, they are very happy and look forward to seeingtheir loved ones. They arrived in Kuwait from Baghdad," he added.

    "Our envoys in Kuwait worked well with others who had the same mission," said the spokesman.

    "Our brothers will be flown back home as soon as possible. I mean tomorrow or Friday," he noted.

    The Kenyan government has been pleading with the kidnappers to free the three nationals, saying they are doing everything possible to ensure the release of the hostages.

    Kenyan senior officials have also reassured the families of thetwo Kenyan truck drivers taken hostage that every effort is being made by the government to secure their release.

    The three Kenyans, together with others from India and Egypt, were kidnapped on July 21 in Iraq by a group calling itself "The Holders of the Black Banners."

    They worked as truck drivers for the Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company, which had negotiated with the Black Banners group for their release.

    The kidnappers initially said they wanted the company to pull out of Iraq or they would behead the hostages one by one. The kidnappers then have several times extended deadlines set for killing the hostages

    The Kenyan government has not sent troops to join the US-led forces in Iraq. After the kidnapping, the Kenyan government urged all of its citizens to leave the country immediately. Enditem