In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…
- The Kenyan government has allocated Ksh.100 million to evacuate Kenyans from the Middle East due to rising insecurity.
- Efforts to improve diaspora services, including ID processing and embassy staffing, are ongoing.
The Kenyan government has allocated Ksh.100 million to support security and other agencies in evacuating Kenyans from the Middle East due to the ongoing unrest in the region.
Addressing the Senate, Prime Cabinet Secretary (CS) Musalia Mudavadi expressed concern for the approximately 26,000 Kenyans in the affected areas, particularly between Israel and Lebanon.
He noted that 1,500 Kenyans have already registered for government support through the Kenyan embassy in Kuwait, emphasizing that the evacuation effort is a top priority.
Mudavadi highlighted the government’s commitment to safeguarding the well-being of Kenyans abroad, promising quick responses to any urgent situations.
While some Kenyans in Lebanon feel secure and have opted to remain, the government is prepared to act when necessary. He also addressed challenges such as financial constraints, which sometimes hinder immediate responses to crises, but assured the Senate that efforts are ongoing to ensure no Kenyan is left stranded.
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During the Senate session, Mudavadi outlined strategies for addressing humanitarian crises affecting Kenyans abroad and mentioned that the government is working closely with embassies and missions worldwide to ensure no region is overlooked.
He also discussed staffing issues at the Kenyan Embassy in Washington, D.C., and consulates in New York and Los Angeles, acknowledging the need for additional personnel to improve service delivery.
Mudavadi updated the Senate on efforts to decentralize identity card processing for Kenyans abroad, including a successful outreach initiative in U.S.
cities like Seattle and Dallas. However, he noted delays due to the manual processing of IDs and challenges with the eCitizen platform, which sometimes rejects foreign phone numbers for OTP verification.
To address this, the government is exploring solutions such as E-SIM cards for diaspora use.
Finally, Mudavadi announced that a session paper on Foreign and Diaspora Affairs is in development, aimed at enhancing Kenya’s foreign policy and diaspora engagement.
This paper will outline key areas of concern and propose policies to support the interests of Kenyans living abroad.