Iran war: Govt airlifts 15 Kenyans as Middle East conflict deepens
By Aloys Michael, March 22, 2026The government has evacuated 15 Kenyan nationals from Iran via Türkiye as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, with the evacuees expected to arrive in Nairobi in the early hours of Sunday, March 22, 2026.
In a statement on Saturday, March 21, 2026, night, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs said the evacuation was coordinated in collaboration with Kenyan missions in Ankara and Tehran, following the activation of emergency protocols to ensure the safety of Kenyans caught up in the conflict.
“A multi-agency team has activated emergency protocols across Kenya Missions in the region. Following this, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, working with Kenya Missions in Ankara and Tehran, has facilitated the evacuation of 15 Kenyans from Iran via Türkiye,” Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu said.
She urged Kenyans in the Middle East to strictly adhere to guidance issued by Kenyan embassies, host governments, and official government communication channels.
The escalation in the Middle East began on February 28, 2026, when coordinated United States and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian government, military, and nuclear-related facilities in Tehran and other major cities.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with numerous senior political and military leaders, were killed, significantly disrupting the country’s leadership structure.
In response, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drone strikes against Israel and US military installations across the region, including bases in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
Air defence systems were activated, several countries temporarily closed airspace, and critical infrastructure, including Dubai International Airport, sustained damage.
Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global trade route, was halted, and multiple oil and gas production and refining facilities were either attacked or shut down as a precaution.
UN on Middle East
This comes as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has warned that civilians are enduring the heaviest toll of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, with the humanitarian situation deteriorating rapidly.
In a statement on Friday, March 20, 2026, Turk said the war has caused death, destruction, and unbearable suffering across the region and beyond, calling for urgent diplomatic efforts to be the only way to prevent further escalation and restore peace.
“The human cost of the reckless war in the Middle East is alarming. Hostilities are being waged without regard to the immediate and long-term consequences for civilians across the entire region and beyond,” the statement read in part.
His remarks come as the Kenyan government steps up efforts to respond to the crisis, seeking Ksh400 million to facilitate the evacuation of its nationals stranded in affected areas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appealed to Parliament to approve the funds, which will support the repatriation process.
An estimated 500,000 Kenyans currently reside across the Middle East.