This archive report was first published on 10 May 2020.
On May 10, 2020, 165 Kenyans who were stranded in China due to the Covid-19 pandemic finally returned home, landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Sunday morning.
The chartered Kenya Airways flight, KQ883, arrived at 2:45am after departing from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 8:27pm on Saturday.
Kenya's ambassador to China, Sarah Serem, played a key role in facilitating the return of the Kenyans, working closely with Chinese authorities to ensure that all passengers had the necessary travel documents.
"KQ883 from Guangzhou, China is now back home. It's always a pleasure to be of service to our country and our fellow Kenyans. Karibuni Nyumbani," Kenya Airways said in a tweet.
Ambassador Serem also had fruitful engagements with the Guangdong Administration, meeting with the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Mayor of Guangzhou to address the interests of Kenyans and promote mutual benefits between the two governments.
Kenya had previously rebuked China over coronavirus-related discrimination against its citizens in Guangzhou province, with Kenyans living in China sharing videos of racial discrimination on social media.
However, the return of the Kenyans marked a positive development in the relationship between the two countries, with Ambassador Serem's efforts helping to resolve the issue.
