29 Kenyan workers from Lebanon were received on Thursday, October 19, 2024, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the government has announced.
This is part of the ongoing process of evacuating the Kenyans who have been working in the war-hit Lebanon.
During a press briefing at Railways Headquarters, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi said the government is exploring all options to ensure Kenyans in Lebanon are evacuated safely back home.
“The Government of Kenya, through the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and other relevant stakeholders, has kicked off the evacuation of Kenyans from Lebanon. On Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 1 AM, a multi-agency team led by senior leadership from Diaspora Kenya received 29 Kenyans at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi who were evacuated from Lebanon.
“The evacuees in a first-contact counselling session with officials from the counselling unit of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs shared their experiences before and during the conflict currently ongoing in the region,” a statement by the government said.
In a previous communication, the government stressed that it was doing everything it could to ensure Kenyans working in the Middle East country are safe.
“As per our previous press releases and subsequent communication, the Government of Kenya wishes to confirm that we continue to prioritize the safety of all Kenyan nationals currently residing in Lebanon amidst the escalating situation. We are deeply concerned that a large number of Kenyans in Lebanon have not yet registered for evacuation despite our repeated calls.
“We are committed to continuing these efforts until every Kenyan in need is safely home. The deadline for registration is 12th October 2024. Any Kenyan who wishes to be evacuated must ensure that their registration is completed before this date,” the government said when it started the process of evacuation.
