The government of Kenya was on Monday morning put to task to explain the fate of Kenyans who have been caught in the ongoing war in the Middle East, especially Lebanon, as situations continue to escalate.
The Office of the Kenyan Ombudsman (the Commission on Administrative Justice) gave the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Foreign Affairs Roseline Njogu seven days to respond to social media reports that have been circulating about the conflict.
‘’The Commission has given the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs seven days to respond to social media reports highlighting the plight of Kenyans living and working in Lebanon, particularly in light of the recent escalation of violence and the deteriorating security situation,’’ the Ombudsman shared in a statement.
The Commission expressed its disturbance, maintaining that it was deeply concerned about the safety of Kenyans who live and work in Lebanon. It also added that they could be possibly having problems accessing essential services and therefore prompted Njogu to respond to the matter.
Ombudsman Chairperson Florence Kajuju appears before a Parliamentary committee in the past.
The Standard
“The Commission is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of Kenyan citizens living and working in Lebanon and the increasing risks to their lives and property, including limited access to essential services and the potential for further violence,” the Ombudsman’s statement added.
The Ombudsman also put the PS to task to explain the number of registered Kenyans who live and work in Lebanon even as the government had issued an 11-day deadline for them to register for evacuation.
The government will also be required to provide an interim assessment report of the current security situation in Lebanon even as reports suggest that a majority of the Kenyans are unable to access their passports to aid in the evacuation processes.
In her response to the questions raised by the Ombudsman, the Diaspora Affairs PS will also be required to provide an evacuation plan indicating the steps to be taken to evacuate Kenyan citizens from Lebanon.
‘’Provide an evacuation plan indicating the steps to be taken to evacuate Kenyan citizens from Lebanon, including; the timeline, logistics, resources allocated, and any collaboration with partners for the evacuation process,’’ added the statement
The Kenyan government will also be mandated to explain the security measures being undertaken to protect Kenyan citizens who remain in Lebanon pending their evacuation.
These developments come even as the government, through Njogu, called on all Kenyans in the war-torn country to register immediately with the government. She, however, raised concerns that most of the affected persons had not come out to register.
“We are deeply concerned that many have not yet come forward despite our repeated appeals. Time is running out and only registered individuals will be eligible for evacuation,” she added in a statement.
According to the government, there are approximately 26,599 Kenyans in Lebanon who majorly work in the domestic and hospitality sectors.
State Department of Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu during a past engagement on August 7, 2024.
Photo
PS Njogu
