The first group of Kenyans evacuated from Iran arrived safely at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on June 29.
According to a statement released on June 30 by Roseline Kathure Njogu, Principal Secretary of Kenya’s State Department for Diaspora Affairs, the group was welcomed after safely landing.
“The first group of Kenyan evacuees from Iran touched down yesterday (Sunday) morning, and were received by our Diaspora team at JKIA,” Njogu said.
The government’s evacuation efforts are ongoing, with a coordinated multiagency team in Nairobi working around the clock to ensure the safe return of all Kenyan citizens stranded in Iran.
Njogu extended her gratitude to the teams involved in the complex operation.“Grateful for the multiagency team here in Nairobi working tirelessly to get our nationals home, and especially grateful to our Embassy teams in Tehran and Ankara,” she said.
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Kenyans’ Evacuation from Iran & Israel
Although the government has not disclosed the exact number of Kenyans still awaiting evacuation, officials confirmed that efforts will continue over the coming days.
On June 21, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs called on Kenyan nationals residing in Iran and Israel to register their information to streamline support during the evacuation process.
“To help us assist you quickly in case of emergency or distress, we encourage you to submit your details to the department,” the notice read.
Contact details and registration links were shared for Kenyans in both countries.
In Iran, citizens can reach the Kenyan Embassy at +98 21 88667394 or +98 21 88667368, or by email.
Those in Israel have been asked to contact the embassy through +972 3 5754633 or +972 54 691 4773. Additionally, the State Department can be reached directly at +254 207 876 000 or +254 114 757 002.
Safety Advisory
These steps followed a safety advisory issued on June 18, in which the department urged all Kenyan nationals in Iran and Israel to remain vigilant and prioritise their personal safety amid rising tensions between the two countries.
Citizens were advised to keep key documents and emergency supplies close at hand, limit movement unless necessary, stay informed through local news, and follow all instructions from local authorities.
In October last year, the government allocated Sh100 million to help in the evacuation of Kenyans during the conflict between Israel and Lebanon.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi at the time told the Senate that the government was committed to ensuring that no Kenyan, out of the 26,000 in the region, was left stranded amid the ongoing insecurity in the Middle East.
Other states, including those from Africa, have started evacuating their nationals from the two countries.
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