Officials from the State Department for Diaspora Affairs address Kenyan returnees at JKIA after their evacuation from South Africa on July 9 /HANDOUT
The number of Kenyans repatriated from South Africa has risen to 472 following the arrival of an additional 50 evacuees at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs confirmed the development, adding that the latest group arrived on Thursday night, marking the another phase of the government's evacuation exercise.
"Last evening, 50 Kenyans arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), bringing the total number evacuated so far to 472," the State Department said in a statement.
The latest arrivals came a day after the government evacuated a further 80 Kenyans from South Africa, the largest single group repatriated since the operation began.
According to the State Department, the group included minors, priority cases and other vulnerable persons affected by the anti-immigration crisis in the country.
Upon arrival at JKIA, government officials received the evacuees, conducted debriefing sessions and provided psychosocial support before facilitating their reunification with family members.
"Last night at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the Government of Kenya, through the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the Kenya High Commission in Pretoria, evacuated 80 Kenyans from South Africa," the department said in an earlier update.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu had announced after Wednesday's evacuation that the 80 arrivals had raised the total number of evacuees to 422, while indicating that more Kenyans were expected on the final day of the exercise.
"Our team welcomed 80 Kenyan evacuees, bringing the total number of Kenyan diaspora evacuated by the Government of Kenya from South Africa to 422. We expect more later today—the last day of the evacuation exercise. Grateful to my team," Njogu said.
The evacuation operation was launched in response to an escalating anti-immigration protests across South Africa that left some Kenyan nationals seeking assistance to return home.
The protests are reportedly driven by growing frustration over unemployment and economic hardship, which has fuelled hostility towards foreign nationals.
The demonstrations began on June 30 after groups of anti-immigration activists declared an informal deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
Since then, protesters have marched through several communities, calling for the removal of undocumented foreigners and prompting concerns over the safety of migrants, including Kenyan nationals.
The government has maintained that it remains committed to protecting the welfare of Kenyans living abroad and will continue providing support to citizens caught up in emergencies through its diplomatic missions and the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.
