Kenyan government evacuates nationals from South Africa and orders tighter protection for Gulf workers

Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has escalated an evacuation programme for Kenyan citizens caught in South Africa’s xenophobic protests. By July 2, 2026, 240 Kenyans had registered for assistance; 151 have already been flown back to Nairobi, with further groups arriving daily. The government is providing temporary shelter, food, transport and emergency travel documents, and stresses the need for valid immigration status.

Separately, Kenya’s Employment and Labour Relations Court ordered state agencies to tighten enforcement of foreign labour contracts and to require recruitment agencies to post security bonds for Kenyan migrant workers in the Middle East. The ruling highlighted abuses faced by an estimated 400,000‑500,000 Kenyan workers in the Gulf, including reports of slavery, violence and at least 274 deaths in Saudi Arabia over five years. The court directed the ministries of Labour and Foreign Affairs to implement the remedies promptly.

Both actions reflect a broader Kenyan effort to safeguard its diaspora amid rising risks abroad.