Revealed: Displaced Kenyans Forced onto Lebanon Streets

The situation of Kenyan citizens living and working in Lebanon remains uncertain despite the government's assurances of having established proper structures to evacuate them as the airstrikes in the Middle East country intensified on Wednesday morning.

According to a confidential source working as a security expert with an international NGO, the Kenyan government's efforts to rescue its citizens have been inadequate. The source reports that some Kenyans have been forced onto the streets amid intense military strikes after being evicted by their employers. Many have had their travel documents stolen which complicates their ability to leave the country. The source reveals that groups of Kenyans and other foreign nationals have been forcibly relocated from their residences, with some being held in private homes.

Those without passports are particularly vulnerable, lacking means of communication and unable to move freely. In response, the source has been working behind the scenes to advise Kenyans and others to relocate to safer areas, such as Mount Lebanon, as heavy bombing continues in regions like Nabatia where many Kenyans reside. Concerned about the situation, the source has written to the Office of the Ombudsman to convey the reality on the ground, challenging a statement made by Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu which had suggested progress in securing Kenyan nationals.

The source expresses doubt about the reported number of Kenyans who had registered for evacuation, fearing that many had not done so despite government estimates. The conflict in Lebanon follows more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hamas. A surprise attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7 resulted in significant casualties and hostage-taking, leading to retaliatory Israeli airstrikes and a mass exodus from affected areas. The Kenyan government has called on its citizens in Lebanon to register for evacuation, with a deadline set for October 12.

As of that date, plans were being finalized to airlift nearly 7,000 registered Kenyans. However, the source maintains that many Kenyans remain unaware of or confused by the registration process.