This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
On Monday evening, a Kenya Airways flight from London arrived in the country, bringing back 70 passengers who had been stranded abroad. This is one of at least three flights expected to bring Kenyans back home, with others scheduled to depart from India and China.
According to an official at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the number of passengers on the flight from the UK was lower than expected due to the costs of flight tickets, Covid-19 clearance, and quarantine charges.
"The number of people who have been showing interest is low, except for India where we have a full flight," said the official.
The returnees are expected to undergo Covid-19 testing and produce a certificate showing they have tested negative for the virus before being allowed onto a flight. They will also have to undergo a mandatory quarantine of 14-28 days at their own cost, as per government guidelines.
Kenyan citizens in the diaspora have complained about the high costs they are being subjected to, including being directed to specific testing facilities that are charging up to Sh30,000 per person.
"I have my family here. We are four of us, and I am expected to pay for the tests. The flights are also very expensive. Add that to the quarantine charges and you realise how expensive it is to be brought home," said Arthur Ocholla in London.
Kenyan citizens in the United Arab Emirates claim that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is silent on their pleas to be repatriated. Chrispinus Masakhalia, who is in Dubai, says a majority of Kenyans, especially those who work in the hotel industry, are now jobless and are desperately waiting for a flight to come back home.
"All my colleagues who were foreigners have gone back home. It is heart breaking to see other governments sending flights to take their citizens home. Others even bring army planes to take their people," he says.
However, the ministry says UAE was among the first places they targeted for repatriation, but when they sent a message for Kenyans to apply, only 13 people showed interest, and that was not economically viable.
