Gov’t Agrees to Evacuate Kenyans from China, But at their Own Cost

Kenyans who wish to be evacuated from China have been asked to register with the Kenyan Embassy in Beijing.

The embassy, in a notice sent to the Kenyan community in China on Friday, said it will organize a flight to repatriate those who want to leave the country as long as they pay for the trip out of their own pockets.

They are also required to prove that they are not suffering from Covid-19 before leaving China and agree to be placed under mandatory 14-day quarantine once they arrive in Nairobi.

“If you are ready to travel under these conditions, fill the above QR code so that the biodata reaches the Embassy immediately,” the notice from the embassy states.

“Please note that the departure will be from Guangzhou on a date to be determined immediately the above information is availed.”

For more information, Kenyans in China were asked to contact the deputy head of Mission in Beijing, Kimani Waweru, on +86600690463.

The Kenyan government has been under increased pressure from Kenyans at home and abroad to evacuate citizens stranded in China in the wake of alleged racial attacks on people of African descent over accusations of spreading Covid-19.

Africans, including Kenyans, were reportedly kicked out of their apartments and denied access to services at local businesses, with many spending the nights on the streets.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau this week admitted that some Kenyans in China were victims of racial discrimination against black people.

“This situation has been extremely worrisome to all of us. The reality is that this has been a very unfortunate outcome.”

“Africans, Kenyans included, have been discriminated against in the process of [Guangdong provincial] government’s response to mop up the situation that they are facing there, post-crisis,” Kamau told reporters in Nairobi.