State requires Sh400m to repatriate Kenyans stranded in Iran, Middle East

The government is urgently in need of Sh400 million to facilitate the evacuation and repatriation of Kenyans stranded in Russia and parts of the Middle East.

Ambassador Hellen Gichuhi, Secretary of Diaspora Welfare and Partnerships told MPs hundreds of citizens are facing distress abroad, with some reportedly stuck in difficult working and living conditions, while others have been caught up in conflict zones and travel restrictions.

Gichuhi told members of the National Assembly’s Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations committee that 15 Kenyans are on their way from Iran.

The 15 individuals, she said, include five children who are minors, two students and the rest are former employees.

The government, Gichuhi said, is facilitating the workers to jet back into the country after they negotiated with the workers' employers and agreed they be brought back to the country.

“We are appealing to the committee to consider allocating Sh400 million for repatriation of Kenyans from the Middle East and Russia following the emerging situation there,” she told the committee chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech.

"The situation in Iran is not good because businesses have closed down and employees have run away and we have some Kenyans still stranded there.”

The official said the funds will cater to emergency travel documents, air tickets, temporary shelter and other logistical needs necessary to ensure the safe return of affected Kenyans.

She said more than 500,000 people are stranded in the middle countries and require urgent assistance.

“Over 500,000 people are stuck in Middle East countries. We cannot all repatriate them and that is why, just like the US, we made a call and asked those who want to come back to Kenya to do so,” she told the team.

She was appearing before the committee to discuss the supplementary budget estimates for the 2025-26 financial year.

This came against the backdrop of a revelation by a February National Intelligence Service (NIS) report that indicated at least 89 Kenyans were on the front lines of the Russia–Ukraine war.

The request also came at a time Kenya has secured a diplomatic agreement with Russia to halt the recruitment of Kenyan citizens into Russian military operations and facilitate repatriations.

The deal was reached during bilateral talks in Moscow between Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday.

Mudavadi said the welfare of Kenyans reportedly recruited to fight in Russia’s Special Military Operations was a central issue during the discussions.

“A primary and urgent agenda item was the situation of Kenyans reportedly recruited into the Russian Special Military Operations,” Mudavadi said in a press statement issued from Moscow.

He said Kenya formally asked Russia to halt the recruitment of Kenyan nationals.

Mudavadi explained Kenyan law prohibits citizens from serving in foreign armed forces without authorisation.

“Section 68 of the penal code outlaws the enlistment of Kenyan nationals in the military or armed forces of any foreign state without written authority of the President of Kenya,” he said.

The law provides for penalties of up to ten years imprisonment unless a court determines that the enlistment was not voluntary.