The joy of viewing the black red and green stripes of Kenya’s national bird, Kenya Airways was evident on their faces as they eagerly waited to board a flight home, after a treacherous 2 month ordeal in the hands of cruelty – By Gerald Gekara.
Kenyans living and working in Guangzhou province in China, were among thousands of Africans who had raised a red flag over how they were treated since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.
From sleeping in the streets, to being denied access to Chinese medical facilities and hotels, Kenyans had enough of what they termed as racism.
After an expose of the quagmire that the Africans in China were undergoing, several Chinese embassies in Africa were called up to explain what was happening, and find a solution to the racial profiling.
In Kenya, the ministry of Foreign Affairs through its embassy in China, sought to calm Kenyans who were reluctant to hear anything else apart from a chartered flight back to their home country.
“…The Kenyan embassy in Beijing is open 24 hours and we have been in contact with the Kenyan community in China … assuring them that things are under control,” Said Sarah Serem, Kenya’s Ambassador to China.
Karibuni Nyumbani…. At your own cost.
As a last resolution, the government agreed to avail a plane to transport Kenyans back to the country at their own costs.
They were to pay Ksh. 80,000 for the flight organized by the ministry and they must agree to be placed under compulsory quarantine for a period of between 14 to 28 days on arrival in Nairobi.
The evacuees must also be Kenyan passport holder and abide by the Chinese exit laws.
So on 9th May 2020, led by Sarah Serem, Kenya’s ambassador to the Chinese, accompanied Kenyans who had booked their seat in the 8.30 pm flight to fly back home, assuring them of the government support despite their troubles in China.
“Mercy flight KQ 883 carrying Kenyans stranded in China as a result of $COVID19 lock down departed Guangzhou 20:30hrs with over 160 excited Kenyans. Amb. Sarah Serem was at the airport to ensure their smooth facilitation. Home sweet home. Karibuni nyumbani.” Read the Foreign Ministry’s tweet.
