Kenyans Given Five-Day Deadline to Register for Final South Africa Evacuation Flight Amid Escalating Xenophobic Violence
The Kenyan government has issued an urgent five-day deadline for its citizens stranded in South Africa to register for evacuation, warning that the final repatriation flight will depart from Johannesburg on Thursday, July 9.
The announcement comes as authorities conclude an emergency evacuation programme launched in response to escalating anti-migrant demonstrations, immigration crackdowns and xenophobic attacks that have left hundreds of foreign nationals fearing for their safety.
In a notice issued through the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and shared with Kenyans.co.ke, Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu called on all Kenyans still wishing to return home to immediately register with the Kenya High Commission in Pretoria.
“Kenyans in South Africa are advised that the evacuation exercise will conclude on Thursday, July 9, 2026, with the final repatriation flight scheduled to depart from Johannesburg on that date,” Njogu said.
She stressed that the registration and verification process would be completed by Tuesday, July 7, to allow sufficient time for travel documentation and logistical arrangements.
“Only Kenyans who have been registered, vetted and processed by the Kenya High Commission will be eligible to board the final evacuation flight,” she added.
The Kenya High Commission in Pretoria has served as a temporary refuge for distressed citizens since the unrest intensified, providing emergency accommodation, food assistance and travel processing to affected nationals.
According to the government, more than 240 Kenyans have so far sought emergency assistance through the mission, while official estimates indicate that at least 30,000 Kenyans legally live and work across South Africa.
By Thursday, July 2, the government had successfully repatriated 180 citizens through a series of evacuation flights.
The first group of 26 Kenyans arrived home on June 30, followed by additional flights carrying 48, 55 and dozens of other returnees as the evacuation operation gathered pace.
The rescue effort was accelerated after anti-immigration groups imposed a June 30 deadline demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave South Africa, triggering widespread demonstrations in several communities.
While authorities maintained that enforcement measures targeted undocumented migrants, reports from affected areas indicated that violence spread beyond illegal immigrants, with many legally resident foreign nationals also becoming victims of attacks.
Kenyans returning home have described terrifying ordeals, including looted homes, physical assaults, forced displacement and the destruction of businesses built over many years.
Many worked in retail shops, supermarkets, salons, restaurants and small enterprises, only to lose both their livelihoods and personal belongings during the unrest.
Some returnees have arrived back in Kenya with little more than the clothes they were wearing after fleeing the violence.
The evacuation programme forms part of Kenya’s wider efforts to safeguard its citizens abroad during periods of crisis, with the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs continuing to monitor the security situation in South Africa.
The government has urged any Kenyan still requiring assistance to contact the Kenya High Commission in Pretoria on +27 76 177 2675 or the 24-hour Diaspora Call and Response Centre on +254 20 7876 000 or +254 11 4757 000 before the July 7 registration deadline.
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