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First batch of Kenyans fleeing xenophobia in South Africa arrives
The first group of Kenyans fleeing escalating xenophobic violence in South Africa arrived in the country on Tuesday morning, as the government stepped up an evacuation programme ahead of a deadline issued by anti-immigrant groups ordering foreigners to leave by June 30.
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said 26 Kenyans had so far been repatriated, with another 63 expected to arrive later on Tuesday night. More evacuees are also scheduled to land at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday as authorities race to bring home citizens who have sought government assistance.
Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs Roseline Njogu said the arrivals mark only the first wave of a broader evacuation exercise targeting Kenyans who have reported feeling unsafe in South Africa.
"We are doing everything to ensure that Kenyans are safe...26 is just the first batch. We are expecting another group of 63 Kenyans to arrive later tonight and another group tomorrow," she said.
According to the PS, slightly more than 200 Kenyans have so far requested evacuation.
More than 100 Kenyans are currently sheltering at Kenya's High Commission in Pretoria, where diplomats have provided temporary accommodation while coordinating with South African authorities to guarantee their safe passage to the airport.
Mozambique, Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Nigeria have already launched similar repatriation exercises after violent mobs targeted migrants from across the continent, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces.
The crisis has also exposed documentation challenges, with some Kenyans lacking valid travel documents after overstaying visas or losing passports.
To facilitate their return, Kenya's High Commission in Pretoria has been issuing temporary travel passes to affected nationals.
The latest wave of violence follows months of rising anti-migrant protests across South Africa, with researchers documenting a sharp increase in attacks this year.
According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), anti-migrant demonstrations surged between April and mid-June, with 61 incidents recorded nationwide. The organisation says at least 148 migrants have been killed in attacks since 2022, making 2026 the deadliest year yet for xenophobic violence in the country.
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