Iran’s recent ballistic missile attack on Israel has significantly escalated tensions in the Middle East, triggering a foreign policy crisis for Nairobi.

With over 26,000 Kenyans stranded in Lebanon amid volatile conditions, the situation poses both humanitarian challenges and critical questions regarding Kenya’s diplomatic strategies and responsibilities towards its diaspora abroad.

The Iranian strike follows Israel’s “limited” military operation in Lebanon against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group.

This escalation comes on the heels of several Israeli attacks on Hezbollah and Hamas, which have included high-profile assassinations of key commanders.

Just days prior to the missile attack, Israel executed an airstrike in Beirut that resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

As the security situation in Lebanon deteriorates, many Kenyans are finding it increasingly difficult to evacuate, raising urgent concerns for their safety.

Nairobi’s foreign office had previously issued an alert in August, urging Kenyans to register for evacuation.

However, videos reviewed by KFP Online reveal a stranded Kenyan diaspora expressing feelings of abandonment by their employers, many of whom have fled to safer Middle Eastern countries.

The Kenyan government faces mounting criticism for its sluggish response to facilitating evacuations, igniting public outcry over its handling of citizens abroad.

Diaspora officials maintain that evacuation efforts are ongoing, but they emphasize the necessity for individuals to register.

When questioned by KFP on Tuesday evening about the number of individuals evacuated thus far and those who have registered for evacuation, Roselyne Njogu stated, “clearer updates will be issued tomorrow.”

The Diaspora Affairs office she leads issued a statement expressing deep concern that a significant number of Kenyans in Lebanon have not yet registered for evacuation.

It confirmed that Nairobi has successfully evacuated two groups of Kenyans from Lebanon but warned that “only those registered Kenyans will be evacuated.”

Notably, the government failed to heed an urgent parliamentary recommendation last August to halt the recruitment and export of Kenyan workers to Lebanon until the political situation stabilized.

Additionally, the Kenyan Honorary Consul in Beirut, previously accused of misconduct—including theft, physical assault, and coercing women into sex work—has been tasked with leading the evacuation efforts, further complicating the situation.