The State Department for Diaspora Affairs is set to receive an additional Sh400 million to evacuate distressed Kenyans trapped in conflict-prone regions, particularly in Russia and Iran, following approval from Members of Parliament.
Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs and says that the current budget is insufficient to cover ongoing repatriation efforts amid rising cases of Kenyans in distress.
The proposed allocation will increase the department’s budget from Sh717.8 million to Sh731.8 million, forming part of the forming part of the Supplementary Estimates.
Ambassador Hellen Gichuhi confirmed that the government is facilitating the evacuation of 15 Kenyans from Iran to Turkey, including five children prioritized under repatriation guidelines.
“We focus on the most vulnerable—children and distressed persons. It is not feasible to repatriate all Kenyans abroad, considering over 500,000 currently reside in the Middle East,” Amb. Gichuhi told MPs.
Gilgil MP Martha Wangari pressed for details on how beneficiaries are identified and how the Sh400 million figure was calculated.
Officials noted that diplomatic engagements in Russia are ongoing, with some details remaining confidential due to security concerns, but assured that safeguards are in place to prevent Kenyans from being conscripted into the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan warned that the government cannot commit to open-ended repatriation without support from international partners.
“It is not sustainable to repatriate all citizens in distress abroad. Shared responsibility with organisations such as the International Organization for Migration is essential,” he said.
Pending bills and ongoing support
The department revealed pending bills of Sh206 million, including Sh131.9 million for foreign air tickets, with only 4.3 per cent settled. Despite financial constraints, the department maintains a 100 per cent response rate to distress calls and continues high-level engagement in multiple countries, including Russia.
Government advisories encourage Kenyans in high-risk areas to leave voluntarily, with official repatriation reserved for those in critical need.
The committee, chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech, is expected to deliberate on the funding request in the coming days as pressure grows to safeguard citizens in volatile regions abroad.
