The government has announced that the final evacuation flight for citizens wishing to leave South Africa will depart from Johannesburg on July 9, as authorities move to conclude a repatriation exercise launched in response to an anti-immigration crisis in the country.
In a statement issued on Friday, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs said Kenyans still seeking evacuation should register immediately with the Kenya High Commission in Pretoria and present themselves for vetting no later than Tuesday, July 7.
The ministry stressed that only those who have completed the registration, vetting and processing exercise will be eligible to board the final repatriation flight.
“The evacuation exercise will conclude on Thursday, 9th July 2026 with the final repatriation flight scheduled to depart from Johannesburg on this date,” the ministry said.
The announcement marks the final phase of an operation that has seen the government facilitate the return of more than 140 Kenyans from South Africa following unrest that prompted fears for the safety of foreign nationals.
On Friday night, the latest group of 60 evacuees arrived in Kenya, where they were received by a multi-agency team led by the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.
Representing Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu, Head of the Counselling Unit Peter Burugu led the reception of the returnees, who were debriefed upon arrival.
“The team debriefed the returnees and provided on-the-spot psychosocial first aid before reuniting them with their families,” a separate statement by the ministry indicated.
The ministry said the counselling support was intended to help the returnees cope with the experiences they endured before and during the evacuation process.
The latest arrivals bring the total number of Kenyans evacuated since the exercise began to over 140.
The government had earlier indicated that demand for evacuation remained high.
As of July 1, Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu said at least 200 Kenyans had registered for repatriation, suggesting that dozens are still awaiting evacuation ahead of next week’s final flight.
Authorities have now urged those who are yet to register to do so without delay to avoid missing the last government-assisted evacuation.
The State Department also lauded the Kenyan community in South Africa, particularly the Kenya Diaspora Association in South Africa (KEDASA), for supporting the evacuation exercise.
It commended the association and its leadership for maintaining calm and working closely with the relevant authorities throughout the operation.
“The Government of Kenya expresses sincere gratitude to the Kenyan community in South Africa, led by the Kenya Diaspora Association in South Africa (KEDASA), for maintaining peace and cooperating with consular teams and local authorities during the evacuation,” the department said.
The ministry assured Kenyans that consular assistance remains available as the evacuation enters its final days.
Those requiring urgent assistance have been advised to contact the State Department for Diaspora Affairs’ 24-hour Diaspora Call and Response Centre or the Kenya High Commission in Pretoria.
The government said it will continue to monitor developments in South Africa and issue further updates where necessary as it winds up the repatriation exercise.
