Arnold Otieno, one of the countless Kenyans stuck in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic, expressed his joy following the announcement that they would be flying back home on Monday night, May 4.
Speaking from Heathrow Airport in London, he was full of praise for the Kenya High Commission in the UK, adding that he had all his bags well in advance of the announcement.
"When the embassy announced that there was going to be a flight, we were prepared. We got all the information from the embassy regarding all the documentation that was needed.
"This flight is a very essential flight. Some of us came here for medical reasons and were not able to get home before the airports were shut down. They were done with the doctors and had no business here. This flight will help them to finally reunite with their families," he explained.
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On April 28, Kenya’s Ambassador to the UK Manoah Esipisu, in a statement, informed Kenyans looking to fly back home that a Kenya Airways flight had been arranged and that the tickets would be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Kenya Airways (KQ) has loaded on its booking system the flight, which is available for sale on a first-come-first-served basis with tickets selling at Ksh98,000 for Business class and at Ksh54,000 for Economy class per seat,” he stated.
He further informed them that they would be required to offer documentation proving their Covid-19 status.
"Fly home with Kenya Airways on a special repatriation flight from London to Nairobi on May 4th. Only Kenyan Citizens with Covid-19 test results will board. So excited to welcome you home!" reads a statement sent out by KQ.
Otieno simply could not hide his joy, going on to reveal that the cancellation of the flight back home that was initially slated for Saturday, April 25, had not dampened their spirits as they had remained packed and ready to leave on a moment's notice.
President Uhuru Kenyatta was successful in negotiating an agreement that will see Kenyans stuck in the UK, China and India given a chance to fly back home.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia maintained that measures were in place to ensure that those who flew back home did not pose a health risk to others and that they would be required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival.
The national carrier, Kenya Airways, is scheduled to fly from Mumbai, India on May 7, while another will ferry Kenyans stuck in Guangzhou, China on May 8.
The Foreign Ministry had in April stated that there were plans to also evacuate Kenyans stuck in Latin America.
