Nearly 200 Kenyans stuck in Saudi Arabia due to COVID-19 restrictions finally head home
The Kenyan Embassy in Saudi Arabia, with help Saudi Airlines, on Wednesday, repatriated 174 Kenyans who had been stuck in the country since March.
The embassy, in a statement, said the Kenyans left the port city of Jeddah at 7:45 a.m.
In April, a Kenyan died of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia and according to Kenyan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Peter Ogego, the victim had an underlying medical condition prior to the pandemic.
Since April, the embassy temporarily suspended its normal operations and consular services until further notice.
The envoy said this was in line with the country’s elaborate efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus and to reduce any risk of infection to staff and clients.
Embassies in Kenya have been working with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and other government agencies to facilitate travel of their citizens back home.