7,000 Kenyans Await Evacuation from Crisis-Hit Lebanon

The Kenyan government faces mounting pressure to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon as violence escalates in the region.

Recently, the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations met with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to address the crisis and evaluate the government's response. The situation in Lebanon has grown increasingly dire, with over a million people displaced and 1,873 lives lost due to the ongoing conflict. Approximately 26,000 Kenyans reside in Lebanon, of whom 7,000 have registered for evacuation. While no Kenyan casualties have been reported thus far, Mudavadi emphasizes the volatile nature of the situation and the potential for further escalation.

In response to the crisis, the government has established a multi-agency committee to coordinate evacuation efforts. The State Department for Diaspora Affairs has developed an Evacuation Plan, which was initially discussed during a committee meeting on August 6, 2024. Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu has assured committee members that the government remains committed to ensuring the safety of its citizens. The Kenyan Embassy in Kuwait, in collaboration with the Honorary Consul in Lebanon, is closely monitoring the situation and providing safety advice to Kenyans awaiting evacuation.

The State Department for Diaspora Affairs has implemented several measures to assist Kenyans in Lebanon, including a registration process for those seeking evacuation, emergency contact setups, and negotiations with the Lebanese government to secure safe shelters for distressed nationals. Three cohorts of Kenyans have already returned home, with two additional groups expected to arrive over the coming weekend. Upon arrival, returnees are greeted by a multi-agency team offering psychosocial support to help them cope with their experiences.

Committee Chair Hon. Nelson Koech stresses the need for immediate action given the deteriorating security situation in Lebanon. He urges the government to prioritize the evacuation process and ensure adequate resources are available to support affected citizens. The State Department for Diaspora Affairs has a proven track record of successful evacuations. In April 2023, the department evacuated 1,170 distressed Kenyans from Sudan during a political crisis. They also facilitated the return of 107 human trafficking victims from Laos/Myanmar and coordinated individual evacuations from various countries, including Israel, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia.