Kenyans stranded in the United Kingdom and willing to pay to return home have a chance to do so as Kenya Airways plans a flight on Saturday.
The decision was reached following a discussion between the Kenyan government and the British High Commission.
KQ will operate a direct commercial flight from Nairobi to Heathrow, London on April 24 before planning for a direct flight to Kenya on the following day.
Only those going to London will board the flight on Friday while those to be on board to JKIA must be Kenyan citizens.
On its way to the UK, the flight will be carrying Britons who were stranded following the suspension of commercial flights on March 25 after the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The KQ management said those who have booked the flight to return home should adhere to the measures set by the Ministry of Health for passenger arrivals.
The national carrier said that all the passengers will be subjected to Covid-19 test. Once the ticket is issued, they will be required to proceed to Lancet Kenya for the virus test within 72 hours.
Upon arrival, all the passengers must undergo a mandatory quarantine for a period of 14 – 28 days at their own cost.
The British High Commission said there will be a connecting flight from Mombasa to Nairobi which will be operated by Jambo Jet on April 24 for those travelling to London.
Kenya’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Manoah Esipisu had earlier said that those willing to travel back will meet the cost for their air ticket.
Since the outbreak of the virus, Kenyans and other African citizens stranded in China have said that they are being abused.
According to the videos shared through social media by Africans in China, some have been kicked out of their rental houses and denied access to shopping malls.
Several leaders in the country have been calling upon the government to make arrangements to evacuate Kenyans from China but this is yet to happen.
Earlier, Foreign Affairs PS Macharia Kamau told a parliamentary committee of the logistical challenges that will make it impossible for mass evacuation as is being proposed by some Kenyans.
He said a number of Kenyans living in China have not registered with the Kenyan embassy, which makes tracking impossible.
