The Principal Secretary (PS) of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, announced that the 4th and 5th cohorts of Kenyans evacuated from Lebanon arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
In a statement, Njogu explained that senior leaders from the State Department received 29 Kenyans at JKIA, Nairobi, who were evacuated from Lebanon.
She noted that the evacuees shared their experiences before and during the ongoing conflict in the region during a first-contact counseling session with officials from the counseling unit of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.
“Another batch of 29 Kenyans from Lebanon arrived this morning and was received by our team at JKIA. We are offering counselling and other support services on-site for returning diaspora,” Njogu said.
The PS added that the government, through the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and other relevant stakeholders, is continuing the evacuation of Kenyans from Lebanon.
She confirmed that more Kenyans evacuated from Lebanon are expected to arrive in the coming days.
Mudavadi on Lebanon Evacuation Process
In a press briefing on October 17, Prime CS and CS for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi stated that the government is exploring all options to ensure the safe evacuation of Kenyans from Lebanon.
Mudavadi revealed that the government established a committee to monitor the evacuation process and that the National Treasury committed Ksh100 million to support the effort.
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Escalation of War in the Middle East
Mudavadi highlighted the potential escalation of conflict in the Middle East and ordered a mass registration of all Kenyans in the region to ascertain their numbers.
He expressed concern that many Kenyans do not follow regular travel channels and fail to register with the country’s embassy or nearest mission, as required.
“The government is also aware of the potential for a larger conflict in the Middle East and has instructed all Kenyan ambassadors in the region to swiftly register Kenyans in their jurisdiction,” Mudavadi said.
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Warning to Kenyans
He warned Kenyans against travelling to conflict zones, stating, “We would also like to discourage Kenyans from traveling to countries that are experiencing conflict or turmoil. It is not a game out there.”
At the same press briefing, Njogu mentioned that the government had evacuated 35 Kenyans, while others returned to Kenya through private means.
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