84 Kenyans Stranded In The UK Have Been Ferried Back Home

84 Kenyans who were stranded in the United Kingdom after countries imposed lockdowns to curb the spread of Covid-19 have finally arrived home thanks to Kenya Airways Chartered planes.

KQ confirmed that the 84 passengers arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on the night of April 4, 2020, and have been taken to quarantine facilities of their choice.

This is after a long wait before the Kenyan Government and the UK Government reached a consensus on how stranded citizens could be evacuated from the countries without putting the lives of other citizens at risk of contracting Covid-19.

After the arrangements went through, the National carrier, Kenya Airways was charged with the responsibility of ferrying Kenyans from the UK but at their own cost.

Every passenger paid 53,544 shillings for the one-way journey after KQ issued out Chartered Planes to ensure the evacuation process was successful.

One of the passengers, Mr. Ambrose Njeru told a local daily that they had selected the quarantine facilities of their choice before traveling and it took very little time for them to be taken to their respective quarantine facilities.

“We were a few on the plane. A passenger was required to occupy three seats,” Mr. Njeru said.

“We wore masks throughout the journey. The process at JKIA was so smooth that we were on our way to quarantine by 11.30 pm.”

On the other hand, Kenyans stranded in India and China are expected to arrive in the coming days. It is more likely that the planes from India and China will arrive between today and Friday according to the state department of Foreign affairs.

According to Kenya’s High Commissioner in New Delhi, Willy Bett, the plane from Mumbai would leave India at 5.15 pm local time.

Mr. Bett said the plane has been overbooked adding that the Airline only expected 223 people but about 300 people have sent their bookings.

However, Mr. Bett argued that the number increased some people who had gone to receive treatment in India have been given caregivers.

“We are calling on any deserving caregiver or patient who might have missed out to send their names, passport numbers, and locations to the mission immediately since they are a priority.”

An Ambassador argued that the program is not an evacuation exercise since the passengers are supposed to incur their costs.

“I insist that this is neither an evacuation nor repatriation. It is simply facilitation to help stranded Kenyans get home. That is why they are paying.”