Evacuation plan for Kenyans in U.K mooted as British citizens set to leave Nairobi on Friday

The Kenya High Commission in London is working on logistics for a possible evacuation flight for citizens from Heathrow to Nairobi.

According to Kenya’s High Commissioner to the U.K. Manoah Esipisu, those keen to fly back will be expected to meet the cost for their air ticket.

“Kenya Airways has given 211 as the minimum number of passengers for whom a chartered flight can be arranged,” he said in a statement.

He further noted that Kenyans evacuated from the U.K will be subjected to the 14-28 days mandatory quarantine period imposed by the Government at their own cost.

Those in need of evacuation have been advised to contact the Commission via email at info@kenyahighcom.org.uk and emergency duty officer at +44 7979 973 794.

Additional information is to be shared in due course regarding dates and cost of the flight once viability of flight is confirmed.

Brits looking for a ✈️ home:@KenyaAirways have put on a flight to London this Friday (24 April) at 0920 from JKIA.

This is currently the only confirmed direct flight from Kenya to the UK, so for bookings head over to: https://t.co/yRDB7MkiBE pic.twitter.com/CTDuCNcHoy

— Jane Marriott (@JaneMarriottFCO) April 20, 2020

Meanwhile, UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott has announced that a Kenya Airways flight will leave Nairobi for London on Friday for evacuation of British citizens.

“Kenya Airways have put on a flight to London this Friday (April 24) at 0920 from JKIA. This is currently the only confirmed direct flight from Kenya to the UK,” she said on Twitter.

One Twitter user identified as @abdinoor_j posed: “Ticket price is too high.$1746 (Ksh.186,507) pp. What happened to the funds set aside for repatriation by the UK government? Unrealistic ticket price.”

The British envoy then replied: “The Charter flights supported by the UK taxpayer are focused in countries where there are no commercial options and Brits could not get home at all otherwise. We have ad hoc commercial options from Kenya, so no Charter planned. Know it is not cheap. Hence support for loans.”

Towards the end of March, British tourists were evacuated from Nairobi aboard their national carrier after the Kenyan government cancelled all international flights following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe stated that cargo flights were the only exception to this rule.

Embassies in Kenya have since been working with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and other government agencies to facilitate travel of their citizens back home.

Thank you @StateHouseKenya and @British_Airways for allowing families to be reunited in the UK and across the world and for stranded tourists to get home. That was the last of the agreed outbound flights for now. Stay safe. pic.twitter.com/d8e74Ab5rq

— Jane Marriott (@JaneMarriottFCO) March 29, 2020