A departure board displays cancelled flights in front of an empty Qatar Airways check-in area amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4, in Greater London, Britain, March 2, 2026.
Kenyans living and working in Middle East countries have expressed their anxiety as the war in the region rages on, with many expressing concern over their safety and the potential global and local impact of the crisis.
“We are shaken, but we are well,” said a Kenyan who is based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, adding: “What happens there always finds its way here.”
Some of the Kenyans who spoke to Nation said they are currently not working and have been advised to remain at home. They feel trapped as they cannot fly back home since much of the airspace in the Middle East and Gulf region is closed and flights grounded.
“We are being monitored here, so I cannot say much,” another Kenyan said. “We have been told to stay home until further notice.”
They also declined to share their photos for fear of compromising their security.
*Mwangi who works for an international airline, said the Middle East remains a critical hub for global oil supply and international trade routes. “Prolonged instability could disrupt supply chains, trigger spikes in oil prices and strain economies that are still recovering from inflationary pressures,” he said.
Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 2, 2026.
Kenyans living in the region have been uploading videos on social media showing areas which have been hit by ballistic missiles or burning debris from the missiles.
They have, however, been warned not to share images of sites that have been attacked.
US-Israeli assault
The region hosts thousands of Kenyan migrant workers employed in domestic work, transport, security, construction and other sectors. Their families back home say they are closely monitoring news reports and staying in contact with loved ones abroad.
“We have survived hard times before,” *Wanjiru told Nation. “We are worried, yes, but we are hopeful.”
Qatar Airways and Emirates Airways planes parked at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia, March 1, 2026 with some flights to Dubai and Doha cancelled following strikes on Iran launched by the United States and Israel.
The attacks came as Iran retaliated against a massive joint US-Israeli assault that began on Saturday. The operation killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior military leaders, and struck military and government sites across Iran. A school was also hit, and at least 148 people were killed in that strike alone.
In retaliation, Iran has attacked US bases in countries like the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
The Kenyan government has urged calm, saying it is monitoring the situation and assessing potential economic impacts. Authorities have not announced any immediate policy changes, but indicated contingency measures could be considered if global markets deteriorate.
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, in an advisory, urged Kenyans residing in or transiting through affected countries to take immediate precautionary measures to ensure their safety. The alert specifically referenced Kenyan citizens in Iran, Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq, as well as surrounding areas.
It is expected that the conflict will have an impact on the Kenyan economy as the country imports a majority of its petroleum products from the region, making it especially vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil markets. Economists say even a short-term supply disruption could drive up transportation and food costs.
Increase prices
Small-business owners say they are bracing for uncertainty.
Mr Peter Kariuki, who operates a transport company in Nairobi, said higher fuel costs would directly affect fare prices and customer demand.
“If fuel prices go up again, we have no choice but to increase prices,” Mr Kariuki said. “And when we increase prices, customers complain or stop using our services.”
Smoke rises after reported Iranian missile attacks, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, in Manama, Bahrain, February 28, 2026.
Meanwhile, flights to Dubai and Sharjah by the national carrier, Kenya Airways, remain suspended “until further notice”.
President William Ruto on Monday morning condemned the missile strikes targeting the Gulf region, noting that regionalisation of the conflict poses a grave threat to international peace and security. He called for engagements that will open talks for de-escalation.
“At this defining and perilous moment in global history, long-standing multilateral institutions remain indispensable frameworks for the resolution of the current crisis in the Middle East,” Dr Ruto said.
The United Nations Security Council also held an emergency meeting over the conflict, with Iran’s envoy accusing the US and Israel of committing possible “war crimes” by attacking civilians.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said military action in the Middle East “carries the risk of igniting a chain of events that no one can control”.
* Some names have been changed to protect sources.
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