By Habil Onyango
Members of Parliament have backed a proposal to allocate an additional Sh400 million to facilitate the repatriation of Kenyans stranded in conflict-prone regions, including the Middle East and areas affected by the Russia-Ukraine war.
The funding request was made by the State Department for Diaspora Affairs as part of the Supplementary Estimates, which would raise the department’s budget from Sh717.8 million by an additional Sh400 million.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs, officials led by Ambassador Hellen Gichuhi said the funds are critical to support a structured evacuation programme targeting the most vulnerable Kenyans abroad.
The lawmakers, however, raised concerns over the rising cost and long-term sustainability of repatriation efforts.
“We are currently evacuating 15 Kenyans from Iran to Turkey, which has already incurred significant costs,” Amb. Gichuhi told the committee. “Among them are five children, who are being prioritised under our repatriation guidelines.”
The department emphasised that repatriation is guided by strict criteria and cannot cover all Kenyans living abroad.
“We prioritise the most vulnerable, including children and distressed persons. It is not feasible to repatriate all Kenyans abroad, especially considering that over 500,000 reside in the Middle East alone,” she added.
Gilgil MP Martha Wangari sought clarity on how beneficiaries are identified and how the Sh400 million figure was arrived at, terming the matter one of national importance.
“Regarding the request for Sh400 million, what criteria is used to identify beneficiaries, and how were these figures arrived at?” she posed.
In response, officials noted that some diplomatic engagements in Russia remain confidential but confirmed progress in securing safeguards for Kenyans.
“We have agreements in place to prevent the conscription of more Kenyans into the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” the committee was told.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan cautioned against committing to large-scale repatriation without clear limits.
“It is not sustainable to repatriate all citizens in distress abroad. There must be shared responsibility, including working with international organisations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM),” he said.
The department also revealed it is grappling with pending bills amounting to Sh206 million, including Sh131.9 million for foreign air tickets, of which only 4.3 per cent has been settled.
Despite the financial strain, officials reported a 100 per cent response rate to distress cases and ongoing high-level engagements in several countries, including Russia.
They reiterated that while advisories are issued for Kenyans to leave high-risk areas, government support is reserved for those in critical need.
“We have established clear repatriation guidelines. Those who are able are encouraged to return at their own cost,” the department said.
The Nelson Koech-led committee is expected to deliberate on the funding request amid growing pressure to safeguard Kenyans caught in volatile regions abroad.
