Repatriated Kenyans seek gov't support to rebuild lives after South Africa return

Kenyans repatriated from South Africa earlier this month following xenophobic violence are appealing to the government for financial support to rebuild their lives after returning home.

The representatives of the 477 Kenyans evacuated from South Africa gathered at the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, saying they are facing severe financial hardship after returning home jobless and without a source of income.

They want the government to provide financial assistance to enable them to restart their businesses and rebuild their lives.

"The key agenda is on funding to help us get back on our feet. We are not here against our government; we are actually here thanking our government for the good work,” said Baylian Wambugu, leader of the returnees.

Ali Jele Sambul, a returnee, added: "Muhimu ni tunataka leo tupate habari nzuri, tupewe pesa tuanze biashara. Leo siondoki hapa, afadhali nifungwe na serikali."

Beyond financial struggles, the returnees say many of their children, who were born in South Africa, lack Kenyan birth certificates, making it difficult to enrol them in local schools.

Others returned without identification documents, while some families are still seeking government assistance to repatriate the bodies of relatives who died in South Africa.

"All the children who were born in South Africa don't have birth certificates. Very many others came from prison without IDs. We also have cases of some of the deaths that happened—we want those bodies brought back,” Wambugu said.

"There is no way you can bring a child from elsewhere and expect them to continue with school immediately. You need documentation that will indicate the way forward,” Ruth Wambui, another returnee, added.

The returnees have also appealed to the Kenyan government to engage South African authorities over five-year entry bans they say were imposed on them upon their departure, arguing that the restrictions should be lifted once the security situation stabilises.

"When we arrived at South African immigration, all of us, despite having official letters, were issued with a five-year ban from returning to South Africa. We want the Kenyan government to engage South Africa so that the ban can be lifted,” stated Julius Mwangi, another returnee.