Multiple Travel Advisories Put Kenyans In The Middle East On High Alert
Thousands more Kenyans living and working in the Middle East may be affected as tensions in the region rise, prompting the US and Canada to issue new travel warnings.
Meanwhile, France and the United Kingdom evaluated their activities in the impacted regions.
Canada recommended that its residents avoid all travel to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen, as well as non-essential travel to Israel, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
The US Department of State issued a global warning that tensions in the Middle East could unexpectedly increase and impede travel.
“Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” read a statement obtained by this publication.
Worldwide Caution: Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation.
Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight… pic.twitter.com/PNSVFgfPpP— TravelGov (@TravelGov) July 23, 2026
It advised Americans already in the region to remain vigilant, prepare for flight cancellations and airspace closures, and monitor airline operations before travelling.
The advisory further urged travellers outside the Middle East to reconsider trips to or through the region as airlines continue adjusting schedules and suspending some routes.
Additionally, France evacuated staff and closed its embassy in Tehran, Iran, over security concerns linked to rising tensions, while Air France halted flights to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Lebanon.
In a similar move, the United Kingdom announced that it has temporarily withdrawn personnel from the embassy in Tehran, citing the deteriorating security situation.
The warnings come as Kenya’s State Department for Diaspora Affairs is yet to issue a fresh advisory to Kenyans in the region following escalation of the conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
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Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu previously disclosed that about 500,000 Kenyans were living across the Middle East, including around 100 in Iran and approximately 1,000 in Israel.
In March, the government issued a safety alert and also evacuated 15 Kenyans from Iran through Türkiye as fighting intensified.
The latest advisories coincide with continued military exchanges, with Iranian media reporting fresh U.S. strikes in several Iranian cities over 13 consecutive days that have resulted in missile attacks.
Iran has also claimed responsibility for drone attacks targeting U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Jordan, signalling a further widening of the conflict.
President Trump has made clear that his administration will take action to counter cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes against Americans. Today I am announcing a new policy that will restrict visas to foreign nationals responsible for or complicit in cybercrime and…— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 23, 2026
The deteriorating security situation has renewed concerns over the safety of Kenyans living, working or travelling in the region.
In addition, there are possible disruptions to commercial flights connecting Kenya to Middle Eastern transit hubs.
Multiple Travel Advisories Put Kenyans In The Middle East On High Alert
