Kenya has confirmed the safety and whereabouts of all its nationals in Israel, despite opening distress call lines for assistance.
Roseline Njogu, the Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, assured that no Kenyan living or working in Israel had been harmed, even as rocket exchanges continued between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza.
“I am pleased to report that there are no casualties among our people. All our citizens are well-accounted for,” she stated in an interview with Nation.Africa on Tuesday.
Njogu emphasized that the Kenyan government was closely monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with its diaspora community through the Kenyan Embassy in Tel Aviv. Plans for evacuation are in place if necessary.
Kenyans in Israel primarily include students, individuals on religious pilgrimages, or those on short scientific trips, as reported by the Israeli embassy in Nairobi.
The Kenyan Embassy in Tel Aviv has shared emergency contact information, advising individuals seeking evacuation to contact responders at diaspora@mfa.go.ke or call +254114757002, +972549060910, and +972547075958.
While evacuation plans are in motion, Njogu noted that such responses typically involve coordination with other government agencies.
Hamas initiated a series of rocket attacks into Israel on Saturday, sparking a surge of violence that had resulted in over 900 Israeli casualties and more than 600 Palestinian casualties by Tuesday.
The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has pledged to combat Hamas aggressively, including blockading the Gaza Strip. This signals that the violence may persist in the days ahead.
On Tuesday, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced its intention to forcibly evacuate civilians from targeted areas in Gaza as they pursued Hamas militants, who had surprised Israel by targeting civilian sites on Saturday.
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