Embassy issues safety advisory to Kenyans in South Africa amid escalating protests
Embassy issues safety advisory to Kenyans in South Africa amid escalating protests
Kenyans living in South Africa are being urged to stay alert following fresh concerns over their safety, as the government flagged rising tensions and isolated incidents targeting foreign nationals in parts of the country.
The advisory, issued by the Kenya High Commission in Pretoria on May 4, was directed at thousands of Kenyans working, studying, and doing business across South Africa, many of whom now face growing uncertainty amid sporadic demonstrations.
“The Kenya High Commission in Pretoria wishes to advise all Kenyan nationals residing in the Republic of South Africa to exercise caution and remain vigilant in light of recent demonstrations and isolated incidents reported in some parts of the Republic of South Africa affecting foreign nationals,” a statement from the commission said.
The High Commission further warns Kenyans to avoid, as far as possible, areas where protests or demonstrations may be taking place, and to remain attentive to guidance issued by local authorities.
Kenyans in South Africa were also urged to carry valid identification and relevant documentation at all times, and to avoid being caught off guard in tense situations.
Further, the commission urged its citizens to keep in touch with the security agencies there and report any attacks targeting them.
“In the event of any incident or emergency, Kenyan nationals are advised to report the same to the South African Police Service(SAPS) and to inform the Kenya High Commission in Pretoria for appropriate assistance,” urged the High Commission.
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South Africa has experienced a sharp resurgence of xenophobic violence in late April and early May 2026, with mobs attacking foreign nationals across Johannesburg, Cape Town, and the Eastern Cape provinces.
Armed vigilante groups have looted and destroyed foreign-owned businesses, displacing over a thousand immigrants in Durban alone. Nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Lesotho have been among the hardest hit.
Operation Dudula and similar groups have been leading protests demanding the expulsion of foreign nationals, blaming migrants for rising unemployment, crime, and drug abuse amid South Africa’s deepening economic difficulties.
Local political actors and community leaders have further inflamed tensions by amplifying anti-immigrant rhetoric, and fears are now emerging that this could effectively scapegoat vulnerable foreign populations, including Kenyans.
International condemnation of the xenophobic attacks has risen ever since, with the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres warning that violent hatred contradicts the global solidarity extended to South Africa during its historic anti-apartheid struggle.
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