This archive report was first published on 12 May 2020.
May 12, 2020 - Nairobi, Kenya. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the country halt international passenger flights, leaving many Kenyans stranded abroad.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government has facilitated the return of 744 Kenyans who were unable to return home due to the pandemic.
However, the ministry clarified that the government only facilitated the travel of Kenyans who were able to pay for their tickets.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to distress calls of Kenyans in several parts of the world and in collaboration with various foreign governments and airlines has facilitated the return of hundreds of Kenyans stranded in several countries," the ministry stated.
Of the 744 evacuees, the largest number came from India, with 233 Kenyans returning home, including patients and caretakers who had overstayed their visas.
Tragically, one patient lost her life as she was about to board the aircraft in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Other countries from which Kenyans returned include the United Arab Emirates (156), South Sudan (70), London (58), Pakistan (20), Egypt (18), Turkey (3), Sudan (9), Ethiopia (1), and Somalia (1).
Additionally, 165 Kenyans arrived from China on Sunday.
The ministry also noted that over the same period, the government facilitated the evacuation of 2,268 foreign nationals from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the USA for medical and personal reasons.
Furthermore, the ministry stated that 11 medical evacuations were facilitated by the government, with all cases being COVID-19 negative except for one Kenyan national working with the UNHCR in South Sudan.
Unfortunately, 191 Kenyans living abroad have been infected with the virus, with 77 recovering, 86 in hospital, and four in ICU.
Regrettably, 20 Kenyans in diaspora have died due to COVID-19 related cases, with the majority being from the United States, the UK, Italy, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden.
