Kenya Launches Emergency Repatriation of Citizens Fleeing Anti-Foreigner Attacks in South Africa

The Kenyan government has launched a week-long operation to repatriate its citizens from South Africa, following rising insecurity and increasing attacks targeting foreign nationals. 

The exercise will run from 27 June to 3 July. In a notice issued on Friday, Kenya’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Elizabeth Choge, said priority would be given to Kenyan citizens without valid immigration documents. 

Many of those affected have lost their passports or other identification, making emergency travel documents necessary for their return. The Kenyan High Commission in Pretoria has been instructed to issue the documents and coordinate the departures.

The High Commission has also appealed to South African authorities to allow affected Kenyans to travel freely to Pretoria to complete the repatriation process. Reports from those seeking assistance describe forced evictions, damaged property and the loss of businesses through looting and vandalism. 

Some have been left without homes, while others have lost their jobs following protests and boycotts targeting foreign workers. The situation has worsened after anti-immigrant groups issued ultimatums ordering foreign nationals to leave certain areas by 30 June. 

As tensions increased, at least 50 Kenyans formally requested evacuation, prompting the government to begin the repatriation exercise. Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu has instructed officials to speed up the processing of emergency travel documents and establish temporary safe houses for displaced citizens awaiting flights home.

The size of the Kenyan community in South Africa remains uncertain. Government estimates place the number of long-term Kenyan residents at about 27,000, while diaspora organisations estimate the population at around 40,000, including students, researchers and short-term business travellers. 

The repatriation effort highlights the challenges of assisting a large and diverse community, particularly those without legal immigration status. Kenya’s response follows similar evacuation efforts by Nigeria, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which have also begun assisting their nationals to leave South Africa.