'They Knocked Out My Teeth': Kenyan Returnee Recounts South Africa Attack

A group of Kenyan nationals has arrived in Nairobi after being repatriated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks that forced them to flee their homes and businesses.

Among those who returned was businessman Ali Sambul, a Kenyan Somali who said he was assaulted during the violence. He said attackers raided his shop, stole his valuables and phone, and left him with several missing teeth. Sambul spent two weeks at the Kenyan embassy before returning home.

“I was at the embassy in South Africa for two weeks; ile maisha tulipitia ni Mungu ndio anajua,” he said, describing the difficulties he faced before his return. 

Despite the losses he suffered, he said he was relieved to be back in Kenya.

Another returnee, Freddom Salama, said the experience had changed his perspective on life in Kenya. “East or west, home is the best,” he said, adding that he had gained a greater appreciation for Kenya’s institutions, including the police, after living abroad. He said returning home had given him a renewed sense of security.

The Kenyan government organised the repatriation of citizens who had been stranded in South Africa. Those who returned thanked the government for helping them travel home safely and appealed for continued support as they rebuild their lives. Several said they were relying on their faith and the support of their communities as they began again.

Many Kenyans have responded with messages of support on social media. Augustus Likavo encouraged Kenyans working abroad to invest in their home country, while Timothy Kemei said the attacks could lead to greater scrutiny of South Africans living in Kenya. 

The attacks also affected women who had established businesses in South Africa. Ruth Wambui, who moved there in 2013 and ran a business that employed local people, said her home was destroyed during the violence. The mother of two returned to Kenya after losing the business and property she had spent years building.

The return of Kenyan nationals forms part of a wider regional pattern, with citizens of Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda also leaving South Africa after similar incidents. The repeated attacks have renewed concerns about the safety of migrant communities and the challenges facing regional integration across Africa.