FIRST GROUP OF EVACUEES FROM SUDAN ARRIVE IN KENYA

On 24th April 2023, Defence Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale, on behalf of the government, received the first group of people to be evacuated from The Sudan following days of unrest in the neighbouring country.

The 40 evacuees who were mostly university students arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 2230hrs aboard a Kenya Air Force flight. They comprised Kenyans and others from our allied states, namely the Federal Republic of Somalia and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The 40 evacuees were lauded for their bravery and resilience for undertaking a long journey from Khartoum to Paloich Airport in South Sudan from where they were air lifted.

In his remarks as he welcomed the evacuees to Kenya, Hon. Duale commended the multi-agency team formed to facilitate the evacuation process, saying the government remains committed to ensuring a safe return of all Kenyan citizens in The Sudan who wish to come home.

He further urged all Kenyans stranded in Sudan and their families in Kenya to continue registering with the State Department for Diaspora Affairs for logistical purposes.

CS Duale affirmed that Kenya associates herself with the position of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the pronouncements of His Excellency President Dr William Ruto for the two warring groups to cease hostilities.

“Kenya strongly believes that tragic as the situation in Sudan is in terms of loss of lives, destruction of property and displacement of civilians, it can and should be reversed quickly. We join those calling for the immediate cessation of hostilities, observance of a humanitarian ceasefire, and return to the negotiation table,” said the CS.

Hon. Duale was accompanied by senior officials from various government ministries, including the Ministry of Defence, State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Ministry of Interior and Administration, as well as the Kenya Red Cross Society among others.