Kenya Seeks Sh400 Million to Evacuate Citizens from the Middle East and Russia
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs has asked Parliament to approve Sh400 million to facilitate the return of Kenyans stranded in the Middle East and Russia.
Ambassador Hellen Gichuhi told the National Assembly’s Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Committee that 15 Kenyans, including five children and two students, have already been evacuated from Iran and are being flown from Ankara, Türkiye, to Nairobi. She explained that the additional funding is needed as more citizens seek government assistance due to the ongoing conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran, now entering its third week.
The recent escalation has involved Israeli strikes on Iranian energy facilities and retaliatory attacks by Tehran on infrastructure in Qatar and other US-allied countries. Ambassador Gichuhi noted that while over 500,000 Kenyans work in the Middle East, many are cautious and have not yet sought evacuation. However, the closure of businesses and departure of employers in Iran has left some stranded and reliant on government support.
Kenya’s evacuation policy prioritises children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. Gichuhi confirmed that no Kenyan casualties have been reported, commending embassy staff for providing guidance and shelter to citizens at risk.
In Russia, Nairobi has secured assurances from Moscow that Kenyans will not be conscripted into the Russian military amid the Ukraine conflict. Some citizens have already been repatriated from Moscow, although the situation remains politically sensitive.
The parliamentary session revealed differing views among MPs over the use of public funds for repatriation. Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan questioned whether the government should fund citizens who voluntarily joined foreign conflicts or accepted overseas contracts, arguing they should take personal responsibility.
Conversely, Belgut MP Nelson Koech, who recently visited Russia, highlighted that many Kenyans are living and working there legitimately, with positive experiences alongside reports of deaths among those recruited into combat. Ambassador Isiah Kabira raised concerns about deportations from the United States, suggesting that the cost of returning non-citizens should be borne by the deporting country rather than Kenya.
The Diaspora Affairs Department faces additional challenges, including human trafficking disguised as labour migration, rising nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiment abroad, and unregulated recruiters offering fraudulent jobs. Although the ministry has received Sh14 million in supplementary funding, officials maintain that the scale of the current crisis requires substantially more resources.
