Kenyan Medical Student Fleeing Ukraine Narrates Her Ordeal at the Polish Border
A Kenyan medical student who fled Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion has narrated her ordeal while seeking refuge in Poland, which has opened her borders to thousands fleeing the conflict.
Speaking to British newspaper The Guardian, the 24-year-old said she faced discrimination at the Ukrainian border, where she was forced to wait for hours to cross over to Poland as authorities were giving priority to Ukrainian nationals.
“We had to wait five hours but we were lucky: we met some people there who had spent days waiting in the foreign national queue,” the student told The Guardian.
After being allowed in, the student says she boarded a free bus organized by a non-government organization to a hotel on the outskirts of Warsaw, which is offering free accommodation to Ukrainian refugees. But the student and her Kenyan friends were denied entry at the hotel even after offering to pay for a room.
“The staff said, ‘Sorry, we can’t admit you because this was meant only for Ukrainians,’” she added.
Her family in Kenya had to seek the help of their Polish friend, who secured accommodation for her and her friends in Warsaw.
Her story follows numerous reports of discrimination against Africans trying to leave Ukraine.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said 79 Kenyans had been evacuated from Ukraine following Russia’s invasion. 74 students successfully crossed into neighboring Poland while four went to Romania and Hungary, the ministry added.
One student flew back to the country while four others declined to be evacuated, citing personal reasons. The ministry stated that all the 201 registered Kenyans who were in Ukraine, including 18 permanent residents, are safe.
Last week, the Kenyan government negotiated unrestricted entry for Kenyans into European Union countries bordering Ukraine.
Comments (13)
Not too long ago I was a ranking official of a foreign government in Europe. It’s true that Europeans still discriminate against black people; and especially those of African descent!
I have worked in two European countries (Germany and Norway). In both countries I was harassed and almost got arrested while waiting to board a train to Munich.
When I asked the German Police why they were arresting me, they told me I looked like an African and they were having illegal African migrants hiding in Germany. They did not even bother to ask me of my credentials and what I was doing in their country. It really pissed me off to have experienced racism in both Norway and Germany.
In Norway I almost got arrested for entering a clothing shop without buying anything. As I inquired why three police officers were trying to arrest me, they told me that Africans go to that shop to steal. So they assumed I was a thief since I was black.
So, you must understand that discrimination is well and alive in Europe. Im not surprised at all that Kenyan students were not allowed to enter Poland for an extended period of time, or given any accommodation in that hotel. Let’s us be real!
It is a bad look to roam in any store window shopping like you did in Deacons Nairobi.
The police arrest mostly wandering/stray individuals who seem to be a threat to the public.
@Abato - How do you assume an individual is roaming by a shop or is a threat to the public just because they entered a store?
Now you have started making crazy assumptions to just the harassment of Africans across the world? So in your simple mind Deacons is reserved for special breed of Africans?
Wewe kubafu sana. Nonsense!
I hope all non whites get out of Ukraine safely,shame on the white Ukrainian and other whites for discrimination.
What are you expecting the war brings out the worst in people and white people are no exception.They expect non Ukrainians to stay there and get killed surely any foreigners should have used common sense the moment it was confirmed the country had been invaded.Let the white people fight among themselves and kill each other they are supposed to be the more “civilized race” Refugees should not be coming from Africa Asia or Latin America only let the whites suffer this time what goes around comes around
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBRwmTVVKQk&ab_channel=WION
Sad but discrimination is never enough to motivate Africa leaders to build paradise at home. A lot of Africans are outside Africa looking 4 a decent living due to unending corruption
So what are Africa leaders falling short of...
Integrity, integrity, integrity, and accountability! Sijui nani aliroga sisi. We are ‘assumed’ well mannered until we get a position of responsibility or leadership and voila….whatever it takes to feed MY family. To hell with everyone else!!!
Yes integrity is enough to do right to self and fellow mankind. Botswana does best to their ppl.
There's oil in Angola, Chad Gabon Nigeria equatorial guinea south Sudan Mozambique Kenya Uganda Libya etc and massive minerals in nearly all of Africa but not much to show in upward mobility of ppl.
Ongea ya Kenya kwanza.Does the said student know that it was worse for a Kenyan MuGikuyu visiting Luo-Nyanza between November 2007 and December 2008?Does she know it will be KANYANGA for any Gikuyu to visit the same area if Uhuru withdraws his support for Raila presidency?Does she know thousands of Gikuyu Kenyans were killed by expired wauji Moi and Ntimama in various so-called tribal crashes?95% of the 1300 killed by muuaji Raila in 07/08 PEV were Gikuyu Kenyans.
You are quite mixed up because you still cannot visit visit Ruto’s Sugoi without getting lit of fire anywhere you visit. As a matter of fact is DP Ruto who started the business of burning Kikuyus alive in 2007/8 Kiambaa church massacre.
If it was in Kenya...the well-paid kukuyu would be first on board..if dholuo is at the door then paid luopeans would have been first...law of order