129 Kenyan Students Stranded in Sudan Flown Back Home

Over 100 Kenyan university students who were stranded in Sudan amid the Covid-19 pandemic have been evacuated.

A Kenya Airways flight carrying the 129 students landed at the Mombasa International Airport on Saturday from Sudan’s capital, Khartoum. 

Most of the evacuated students hail from Coastal Kenya counties including Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, and Lamu. Upon arrival, they were immediately sent into a mandatory 14-day quarantine at the Kenya School of Government in Kizingo area, Mombasa.

“We really appreciate those who have made our return a reality. Being away from our loved ones has been quite heartbreaking,” Salim Bakari, a second-year Financial Economics student at the International University of Africa told Daily Nation.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir who contributed Sh1 million towards their evacuation said most of the students were on scholarships and could not afford flight tickets back home.

“Eighty-three students from Mombasa have safely arrived. It has been great working together to make this a success,” he remarked.

The MP joined hands with the Mombasa community to rescue the students after they sent distress calls through videos.

The government announced the suspension of international flights in March as part of the measures aimed at combating the spread of Covid-19.

At least 1,000 Kenyans stranded in various countries abroad including China, India, and the United Kingdom have since been evacuated on chartered flights at their own costs.