Govt Advices Over 500,000 Kenyans Stranded in Middle East Conflict To Leave At Own Cost, State Won’t Pay

Kenya has urged its estimated 500,000 nationals across the Middle East to leave the region using available commercial or repatriation flights at their own expense, as conflict escalates. The government said no Kenyan casualties have been reported since hostilities began a week ago.

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi said on Friday that the government was closely monitoring the rapidly evolving security situation while coordinating with diplomatic missions across the region to safeguard Kenyan citizens.

“Kenyan citizens who wish to depart the region are advised, where feasible and safe, to make appropriate arrangements through available commercial airlines or licensed travel agents,” he said in a statement.

In a statement issued on March 6, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said the safety and well-being of Kenyans abroad remained the government’s “top priority”, noting that most nationals in the region were continuing with their daily activities depending on local security conditions.

The advisory effectively places the cost and responsibility for immediate departures on individual travellers, although the government said it was coordinating broader evacuation efforts through diplomatic channels and commercial aviation.

Kenya Airways, the national carrier, has begun using negotiated safe air corridors to help repatriate Kenyans stranded in the region as tensions disrupt regular travel routes.

Mr Mudavadi said the ministry remained in constant communication with Kenya’s diplomatic network across the Middle East, which includes seven embassies and two consulates-general.

“These missions continue to provide regular updates on the welfare of Kenyan nationals and the security of our diplomatic personnel and facilities,” the statement added.

Kenyan embassies across the region have activated emergency and contingency response mechanisms, including evacuation plans should the security situation deteriorate further.

Diaspora support

And Kenyans were urged to register with the nearest Kenyan embassy or consulate and maintain regular communication with diplomatic staff through emergency helplines established across the missions.

The State Department for Diaspora Affairs also activated a 24-hour diaspora support centre accessible via telephone and WhatsApp to assist Kenyans seeking guidance.

Officials said the centre is intended to coordinate information, assist distressed nationals and connect Kenyans with diplomatic missions across the region.

The advisory comes as several Gulf countries intensify efforts to assist foreign nationals seeking to return home as the conflict widens and aviation routes face intermittent disruption.

Authorities in Dubai said aviation teams had operated more than 1,140 flights within the past 84 hours through Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport, facilitating the departure of thousands of travellers heading back to their home countries.

Between 2 and 5 March, more than 500 flights departed the two airports, offering roughly 105,000 outbound seats to more than 80 countries, according to airport authorities.

Officials said the number of flights could rise as airlines expand schedules to accommodate growing demand from travellers seeking to leave the region.

Airports and airlines have urged passengers to monitor flight updates closely and confirm travel arrangements directly with their carriers as schedules continue to change in response to the evolving security environment.

Elsewhere in the Gulf, the Sultanate of Oman stepped in to facilitate the safe departure of foreign nationals.

In a statement reported, the local Ministry of Information said Oman was coordinating with international airlines and foreign governments to organise flights enabling travellers from “brotherly and friendly countries” to return home safely.

The Middle East remains one of the largest destinations for Kenyan migrant workers, particularly in domestic service, construction, hospitality and healthcare.

Remittances from the region form a significant portion of Kenya’s diaspora earnings, which have become one of the country’s largest sources of foreign exchange.

Beyond labour migration, the region is also a major market for Kenyan exports, particularly agricultural produce such as fresh flowers, fruit and vegetables. As of 2024, Kenya had a trade volume of $6 billion with Gulf countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged that the ongoing conflict could disrupt trade flows, particularly shipments of perishable goods that rely heavily on regular air cargo services to Gulf markets.

Officials said the government was working with Kenya Airways and other carriers to secure special cargo permits and additional flight capacity to ensure exports continue despite aviation disruptions.

“We urge affected members of the Kenyan business community to remain patient as these efforts continue,” the ministry said.