Muturi pushes for cost-free evacuation of Kenyans fleeing war

Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin Muturi/HANDOUT

Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin Muturi has called on the government to urgently facilitate the evacuation of Kenyans stranded in the Middle East amid escalating missile and aerial attacks, stressing that citizens should not be required to pay for flights or evacuation services.

“It is both 'insensitive' to subject Kenyans fleeing war and bombardment to any form of financial charge in order to return to their own country,” Muturi said on Friday via his social media account.

“I call upon the government of Kenya to immediately organise the evacuation of all Kenyans seeking to leave the affected regions and to waive, without exception, all transport and evacuation fees,” he added.

Muturi said that no Kenyan escaping bombs and conflict should be treated as a paying customer, noting that the lives of citizens should remain a top priority.

“They must be treated as citizens whose government has a duty and obligation to protect them,” he said.

He emphasised that the protection of Kenyan lives should take precedence over cost considerations, noting that other governments around the world are waiving evacuation and transport fees to ensure the safety of their citizens during crises.

Kenya says it has received no reports of casualties involving its citizens in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and has activated emergency response measures across its diplomatic missions in the region.

In a statement dated March 6, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs said the government is closely monitoring the situation and prioritising the safety and welfare of Kenyans living and working in the region.

“The deeply destabilising conflict in the Middle East is a matter of grave concern to Kenya,” the ministry said.

According to the statement, more than 500,000 Kenyan nationals reside and work in the Middle East.

The ministry said that seven days into the conflict, no casualties or injuries involving Kenyan nationals had been reported.

“Amidst this conflict, the Government, through the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, wishes to assure the public that the safety and well-being of the more than 500,000 Kenyan nationals residing and working in the Middle East remains a matter of top priority. No casualties or injuries involving Kenyan nationals have been reported seven days into the conflict,” the ministry said.

It added that most Kenyans in the region are continuing with their daily activities “whether for work, study, or personal matters, either in person or remotely, depending on prevailing local circumstances.”