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State to evacuate Kenyans in SA

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Published on Thursday, 29 May 2008 01:10
The Government will from today start evacuating Kenyans from South Africa, which has been rocked by xenophobic mayhem. The first batch of 64 Kenyans, mainly university students, are expected to arrive Thursday morning aboard a Kenya Airways flight. Air tickets have been sent for the evacuees through the Kenyan Embassy.

A ministerial source said the Government had by Wednesday sent Sh5 million worth of air tickets to South Africa. The evacuation of Kenyans from the troubled country follows an escalation of attacks targeting them and other Africans.

The Kenyan High Commissioner to South Africa Tom Amolo, said on phone last night that he had been called to Cleveland Police Station, near Johannesburg, where ten Kenyans whose businesses had been attacked were camping. "I am heading to Cleveland Police station near Johannesburg where Eric Mogaka and nine other Kenyans are. Their property was looted from their shops," said Amolo.

Foreign Affairs Assistant minister Richard Onyonka, announced in his office that the first batch of Kenyans to be evacuated are those who requested for assistance. Onyonka said by last evening about 100 Kenyans had requested to be evacuated immediately. By mid-day Wednesday, 64 had confirmed their desire to be assisted to come home, while another 100 were still to come to the Embassy for travel arrangements.

"Priority should be given to students, the (violence) victims and those who can’t raise air fare," said Onyonka, adding that vetting was being done at the Embassy. More Kenyans attacked .He at the same time disclosed that more Kenyans had been attacked, with the latest victims being in Cleveland town. He asked Kenyans in South Africa to remain vigilant as arrangements were being made to assist them leave the country.

At the same time, the minister termed as personal sentiments demands by some MPs that the South African Embassy in Nairobi be closed down in protest to the attacks on Kenyans. Onyonka said the Government had no problem with the South African government and any official communication would be made by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.