PS seeks Sh400m for repatriation of Kenyans
National
By
Edwin Nyarangi
| Mar 20, 2026
Diaspora Affairs PS Roseline Njogu before the National Assembly Defence and Foreign Relations at Continental House, Nairobi. May 15, 2024. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]
The State Department of Diaspora Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested Sh400 million for the repatriation of Kenyans from the Middle East and Russia.
Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu told the National Assembly Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee that there are over 500,000 Kenyans in the Middle East, but priority would be given to children.
She said the government was currently repatriating Kenyans from Iran as the Kenyan embassy continues to monitor the developments amid escalating wars with the US and Israel.
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The department has been allocated Sh717 million, but the PS said more money was needed for the exercise.
Njogu also sought Sh116 million to settle pending bills, with foreign travel constituting 62.5 per cent of the amount.
Committee chair, Nelson Koech, accompanied Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi to Moscow this week in what has been described as a failed mission since it did not secure justice for families who lost their kin fighting for Russia in its war with Ukraine. Some are still missing.
Gilgil MP Martha Wangare raised concerns that many families did not know the fate of their young men, who were recruited by agents into a war they never understood.
But Koech claimed many Kenyans doing well in Russia may be affected by negative media publicity.
“I was in the team that travelled to Russia to address the concerns of hundreds of Kenyans who have been recruited to fight for Russia. We have secured a guarantee that no more citizens will be recruited to participate in this war,” he said.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan dismissed the calls for repatriation of Kenyans trapped thousands of miles away from home, saying those who went to Russia were not forced.
“The country does not have funds to repatriate all Kenyans who are in various parts of the world in case of trouble. Even countries like the United States of America normally issue travel advisories to their citizens to leave areas that are troubled,” said Hassan.