Kenyans living in the UAE are stranded and are asking for a plane back home.
In a message to rights activist Boniface Mwangi, one of the Kenyans in Dubai said they have been suffering since the Covid-19 outbreak.
“We are stranded in Dubai and most Kenyans were laid off. They are unable to pay rent and even buy food. Actually, some are forced to sleep in the street parks,” the anonymous sender wrote.
“We have been crying to the embassy to get us a plane but it has been all in vain.
“We don’t need a free flight. We will pay. All we are asking is for he government to send us a plane to repatriate the people who are suffering here,” the Kenyan said.
The Brief reached out to a Kenyan working in Dubai, who confirmed the situation in the UAE.
“This is the reality. The cost of living is insanely expensive, the reason why many companies offer housing. Once you lose your job and visa, you lose everything else – housing, protective gear against Covid-19 and obviously your medical insurance. People are in dire need,” he said.
Ambassador Kariuki Mugwe in a letter dated April 15 had asked Kenyans who had not registered with the embassy to do so and indicate whether they wanted to travel back home.
Mugwe said there are 50,000 Kenyans in the UAE and only 13,000 have registered with the embassy and the consulate.
“We therefore appeal to all Kenyans residents in this country to register with any of our two missions in order to have an accurate number of residents here…. You may also wish to indicate whether you need to travel back home for us to start the process of seeking relevant clearances and approval for the travel,” Ambassador Mugwe said in the notice.
It is unclear where this plan reached.
However, Foreign Affairs PS Ambassador Macharia Kamau is on record saying it is impossible to charter flights to pick Kenyans stranded in various countries and bring them back home in the face of Covid-19 crisis.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Defence and Foreign Relations Committee, Amb Kamau said hiring a plane is not the same as hiring a matatu.
“We have three million Kenyans out there. If we were to evacuate just one percent, those are 30,000 people. Just imagine the logistics. Our planes will have to crisscross the globe. Just imagine bringing 30,000 people back. Do we even have the quarantine facilities?” posed Kamau.
Kenya has so far evacuated Kenyans from New York, London, New Deli and Addis Ababa.
UAE hosts many Kenyans working in various parts of the country.
