Nairobi Governor Sonko Buys Flight Tickets for 10 Kenyans Who Were Stranded in China

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko says he bought flight tickets for 10 Kenyans who were stranded in China in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sonko, through Instagram on Sunday, May 10th, said he made the move after receiving distress calls from the 10, who included a one-year-old baby.

"On April 30th, 2020, I received a distress call via both email and cell phone from fellow Kenyans who were stranded in China after the global lockdown and the xenophobic attacks that broke out, largely targeting Africans because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

"I listened to those who reached out to me, and I was deeply touched by the anguish they were going through," Sonko said.

Sonko noted that the 10 could not afford to buy tickets on the repatriation flight after Kenyans seeking to return home were asked to pay for the trip from their own pockets.

The 10 are among 165 Kenyans who arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi aboard a Kenya Airways flight at 3 am on Sunday.

The KQ 883 flight left Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, China at 8:27 pm on Saturday, May 9th.

Further to this, Sonko promised to settle the quarantine charges for the 10 once they arrive in the country as well as facilitate their reunion with their families after they are released from quarantine facilities.

An economy ticket on this flight was going for Sh80,468 and Sh123,291 for business class, meaning Sonko spent nearly Sh1 million to rescue the 10 Kenyans.