Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs now says a total of 79 Kenyans have been evacuated from Ukraine, and that all the registered Kenyans who were in Ukraine are safe.
The latest comes after Kenya’s government negotiated unrestricted entry for Kenyans into neighboring EU countries.
74 Kenyan students had crossed into Poland as of February 28, with four more in Romania and Hungary.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, those in Poland were in Warsaw, Krakovets, and Katowice.
One student has already returned to the country, while four others have declined to be evacuated citing personal reasons.
According to the Ministry, a Whatsapp page ‘Kenya Evacuation’ created on February 24 was joined by approximately 100 Kenyan students.
“Members of this group include members of the Kenyan diplomatic corps in various neighboring countries, officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nairobi, and student leaders. The objective is to ensure quick communication to handle unprecedented situation in Ukraine,” a statement from the Ministry says.
“Kenya’s Honorary Consul in Kiev is coordinating the evacuation of Kenyans. Kenyans who are still stranded are encourage to contact our Honorary Consul on +38 044 229 79 13 or on email at ak@kenyaconsul.com.”
Earlier on Friday, Kwale Woman Representative Zulekha Hassan had requested a statement from the Foreign Affairs office, in regard to measures being taken to bring back Kenyans caught up in the Russian-Ukraine conflict.
Hassan explained that a number of Kenyans studying and working in Ukraine had been trapped there, saying there is an urgent need to intervene due to the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
Ukrainian Residents in Kenya also protested Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Kenya said it was organizing the necessary permits for a major protest this coming Sunday for Ukrainians.
Ukrainian forces fought off Russian invaders in the streets of the capital Kyiv on Friday as President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of targeting civilians and called for more international sanctions.
Pre-dawn blasts in Kyiv set off a second day of violence after Russian President Vladimir Putin defied Western warnings to unleash a full-scale invasion on Thursday that quickly claimed dozens of lives and displaced at least 100,000 people.
