The escalating war in Ukraine made its way to the National Assembly yesterday after an MP sought a statement on what plans the government had put in place to repatriate hundreds of Kenyans stranded there.

Kwale Woman Representative Zulekha Hassan, wants the government to move with speed and bring home Kenyans who have been caught up in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “The ministry of Foreign Affairs should state within what timelines the repatriation process will be undertaken,” Zulekha says in the statement which was referred to the departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations.

Russian forces raided Ukraine in the early hours yesterday bombing several parts of the country in a move that has been condemned by many countries in the world.

“In lieu of reparations, could the National Government consider relocating these citizens to safer regions within Ukraine or to more peaceful nations that neighbour Ukraine, as well as provide relief food and other supplies to them,” Zulekha says.

According to the MP, a number of Kenyans have been caught in the invasion, most of them from Ternopil National Medical University and other institutions and workplaces.

“These Kenyans are already facing movement challenges occasioned by closure of airports, and face the real possibility of inaccessibility to food supplies and communication platforms” Zulekha noted.

She said that the month-long state of Emergency in Ukraine has been complicated by the recent declaration of martial law, resulting in mass exodus of people from Kiev and other cities in the country.

The MP went on to give 50 names of Kenyan students studying at Ternopil National Medical University in Kiev. Kenya has already waded in the crisis with the country’s ambassador at the U.N. Security Council saying the country was gravely concerned with recent Russia’s announcement. 

Gravely concerned

Kenyan Ambassador Martin Kimani drew parallels to African history and spoke about nations in Africa that had their borders drawn by distant colonial powers.

“Kenya is gravely concerned by the announcement made by the Russian Federation to recognize Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine as independent states. In our considered view, this action and announcement breach the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” Ambassador Kimani said.

Putin’s directive came hours after he recognized two separatist regions in Ukraine in a rambling, fact-bending discourse on European history. The move paved the way to provide military support.

 “Our borders were not of our own drawing. They were drawn in the distant colonial metropoles of London, Paris and Lisbon with no regard to the ancient nations they cleaved apart.” 

He added: “At independence, had we chosen to pursue states on the basis of ethnic, racial or religious homogeneity, we would still be waging bloody wars. We chose to follow the rules of the Organisation of African Unity and the United Nations Charter. Not because our borders satisfied us, but because we wanted something greater, forged in peace.”