NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s State Department for Diaspora Affairs has requested an additional KSh400 million from Parliament to support the evacuation of citizens stranded in conflict-affected regions, particularly in the Middle East and areas impacted by the Russia-Ukraine war.
Officials led by Ambassador Hellen Gichuhi, Secretary of Diaspora Welfare and Partnerships, told the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs that the funding is urgently needed to scale up rescue and repatriation efforts for vulnerable Kenyans abroad.
If approved under the Supplementary Estimates, the allocation will increase the department’s current budget from KSh717.8 million by an additional KSh400 million.
Ambassador Gichuhi said ongoing geopolitical crises, including tensions involving Russia, Iran and parts of the Middle East, have significantly strained the department’s limited resources.
Recent flare-ups and heightened insecurity in the region have prompted several countries to issue evacuation advisories, complicating efforts to safeguard foreign nationals.
“We are currently evacuating 15 Kenyans from Iran to Turkey, which has already incurred significant costs. Among them were five children, who are being prioritised under our repatriation guidelines,” Gichuhi noted.
The department emphasised that government-assisted evacuations are limited to the most vulnerable individuals, including minors and citizens in distress, noting that a blanket evacuation of all Kenyans abroad is not feasible.
With an estimated 500,000 Kenyans living and working in the Middle East, many in domestic and service sectors, officials said logistical and financial constraints make mass repatriation impractical.
Lawmakers, however, raised concerns over transparency and accountability in the proposed funding. Martha Wangari questioned the criteria used to identify beneficiaries and how the KSh400 million estimate was determined.
“Regarding the request for Ksh.400 million, what criteria is used to identify beneficiaries, and how were these figures arrived at?” Wangari posed.
Officials responded that some diplomatic engagements, particularly those involving Russia, remain confidential due to their sensitive nature, but confirmed that measures have been taken to prevent further recruitment of Kenyans into conflict zones.
Yusuf Hassan cautioned against overreliance on public funds for repatriation, urging the government to collaborate more closely with international agencies such as the International Organization for Migration.
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“It is not sustainable to repatriate all citizens in distress abroad. There must be shared responsibility, including working with international organisations such as the IOM,” he stated.
The department also revealed it is grappling with pending bills totalling KSh206 million, including KSh131.9 million in unpaid air travel costs, highlighting the financial strain on ongoing evacuation operations.
Despite these constraints, officials said they have responded to all reported distress cases and continue to engage foreign governments to ensure the safety of Kenyans overseas.
They added that while travel advisories are issued for citizens in high-risk areas, state-funded evacuations are reserved strictly for urgent humanitarian cases, with others expected to facilitate their own return.
The parliamentary committee, chaired by Nelson Koech, is expected to review the funding request as pressure mounts on the government to enhance protection for Kenyans caught in volatile regions abroad.
