The Kenyan government has issued a security advisory to its citizens living in or travelling through the Middle East following a sharp escalation in hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
The warning, released by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs on Sunday, comes in the wake of reported attacks by Israeli and US forces on Iranian targets and subsequent retaliatory strikes by Iran against Israel and American bases in parts of the Gulf region.
The developments have raised fears of a wider regional confrontation, placing foreign nationals including thousands of Kenyans at potential risk.
In the advisory, the ministry urged Kenyans residing in or transiting through affected countries to take immediate precautionary measures to safeguard their safety. The alert specifically referenced citizens in Iran, Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq, as well as surrounding areas.
Kenyans in these locations have been advised to exercise extreme caution, minimise non-essential movement and avoid high-risk areas such as military installations and crowded public spaces that could become targets in the event of further escalation.
The government further called on its nationals to comply strictly with guidance issued by local security authorities and to remain alert to official communications from host governments regarding safety updates and travel restrictions.
With airspace disruptions already reported in parts of the region, the ministry cautioned travellers to remain aware of possible flight cancellations or sudden closures that could complicate evacuation or movement plans. The advisory emphasised that the situation remains fluid and may change rapidly depending on military and diplomatic developments.
“Kenyans who have not yet registered with their nearest embassy or consulate to do so immediately to enable timely updates from the Missions and assistance during emergencies,” the advisory stated.
The ministry listed emergency contact details for Kenyan missions across the region, including the embassy in Tehran, the mission in Tel Aviv, as well as diplomatic offices in Kuwait City, Muscat, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
These are the emergency contacts provided by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs for Kenyan missions across the Middle East. Kenyans in Iran can reach the Embassy in Tehran on +98 996 672 7549, while those in Israel may contact the Embassy in Tel Aviv on +972 542 540 394.
In Kuwait, the Embassy in Kuwait City is available on +965 9090 6719, and in Oman, the Embassy in Muscat can be reached on +968 7159 8400 or +968 9360 1448. The Embassy in Doha, Qatar, is reachable on +974 4493 1870.
In Saudi Arabia, Kenyans may contact the Embassy in Riyadh on +966 500 755 060 or the Consulate-General in Jeddah on +966 12 578 4718. In the United Arab Emirates, the Embassy in Abu Dhabi can be reached on +971 54 220 8646, while the Consulate-General in Dubai is available on +971 50 870 4117.
These missions, the government said, remain operational and ready to provide consular assistance where required.
“The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs continues to assess the situation and remains in contact with our diplomatic missions in the region. We will provide further updates and guidance through official platforms,” Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who also heads the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said.
This advisory comes amidst growing international anxiety over the prospect of a broader confrontation between Tehran and Tel Aviv, with Washington’s involvement heightening the geopolitical stakes. Long-standing tensions between Iran and Israel have periodically flared over issues ranging from regional proxy conflicts to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The latest exchange of strikes signals one of the most serious escalations in recent years, raising concerns about potential spill-over effects across Gulf states that host significant foreign worker populations.
For Kenya, this war carries a particular weight given the substantial number of its citizens employed across the Middle East, especially in domestic work, construction, hospitality and service sectors.
Remittances from the region form a significant part of Kenya’s diaspora inflows, meaning that any prolonged instability could have both humanitarian and economic implications.
While the government has not announced evacuation plans, the tone of the advisory reflects a proactive approach aimed at ensuring preparedness rather than reacting to crisis after it unfolds.
