Kenya airlifts 26 citizens from South Africa as xenophobia fears grow
By Kenneth Mwenda, June 30, 2026Kenya has airlifted 26 citizens from South Africa as fears grow over xenophobic tensions and protests targeting foreign nationals in the country.
Roseline Njogu, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, confirmed the arrival of the first group at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. She said the evacuation is part of a wider government response to protect Kenyans living in South Africa as unrest escalates.
“We received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport 26 Kenyans coming from South Africa,” Njogu said. “We evacuated the first group of 26 Kenyans who are fleeing the xenophobic or aporophobic attacks that we have recently seen in the media.”
She added that the evacuation effort is ongoing and more Kenyans are expected to return in the coming days. According to her, the first group is only part of a larger operation.
“That number of 26 is just the first batch of the waves of Kenyans that we are working to evacuate,” she said.
63 more Kenyans expected back
Njogu confirmed that another group of 63 Kenyans is expected to arrive later the same night, with additional arrivals scheduled for the following day.
She said the government began evacuation planning after receiving reports of rising insecurity and fear among Kenyan nationals in South Africa.
“So far, since we issued a call to the Kenyan diaspora living in South Africa who would like to be evacuated and who feel they are currently in danger, we have had just a little bit over 200 people registering,” she said.
Njogu also revealed that more than 100 Kenyans are currently sheltering at the Kenya High Commission in Pretoria as they wait for evacuation arrangements.
“At our Kenya High Commission in Pretoria, we have a group of more than 100 Kenyans who are taking shelter,” she said. “Our team at the Kenya High Commission is extending services to them and has offered sanctuary and shelter.”
She noted that the total number of Kenyans seeking evacuation represents only a small portion of the Kenyan community living in South Africa.
“This group of about 200 or so who have requested to be evacuated is a small percentage of our entire diaspora in South Africa where we have over 27,000 Kenyans living and working,” she said.
The evacuation follows a wave of anti-migrant protests across South Africa, where thousands of people have marched in major cities calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country. Police have increased their presence in several areas to prevent violence.
Ramaphosa calls for calm
According to reports, at least 25,000 migrants have already been repatriated in recent months as pressure builds on foreign communities. Many migrants, mainly from other African countries, have left voluntarily or through government-assisted programmes.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged calm and warned against violence, saying South Africa’s constitution protects both citizens and lawful migrants.
“The right to protest and freedom of expression does not allow people to threaten or intimidate others, or to engage in acts of vandalism or violence,” Ramaphosa said.
He also acknowledged that some migrants remain legally in the country and contribute to the economy.
“They work, study, raise families, invest in our economy and contribute positively to our society. They too are entitled to the protection of our laws and our Constitution,” he said.
Despite this, tensions remain high in several urban areas, including Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria, where protests and isolated incidents of looting have been reported.
The South African government says most demonstrations have remained peaceful, though it has confirmed several arrests linked to looting and intimidation.
In Nairobi, Kenyan officials said they are closely monitoring the situation through diplomatic channels and will continue assisting citizens who choose to return.
Njogu said the government is committed to protecting Kenyans abroad while also respecting host country laws and diplomatic procedures.
“We are expecting a group of 63 Kenyans to arrive a little bit later tonight and another group to arrive tomorrow,” she said.
She added that evacuation efforts will continue as long as necessary, depending on security developments and demand from citizens in South Africa.
The Kenyan High Commission in Pretoria remains a key support centre for nationals seeking safety, with staff providing temporary shelter, food and coordination for return flights.
Njogu urged calm among Kenyans still in South Africa and encouraged those in distress to contact diplomatic missions for assistance.
“This is an ongoing process,” she said. “We continue to monitor the situation closely and will respond as needed to ensure the safety of our citizens.”