Kenyans in xenophobic SA say High Commission has failed them

Some Kenyans living in South Africa have launched a scathing attack at the Kenyan High Commissioner to Pretoria, Ms Jean Njeri Kamau.

They are accusing her of “indifference and lacking the will to assist Kenyans in their hour of need.”

In a statement on Friday, the chairperson of Kenyan Residents in Johannesburg (KRJ) said many Kenyans had complained that their distress calls to the embassy went unanswered.

“We are saddened by the way our High Commission is handling this matter. The new head of mission comes across as indifferent and lacks the will to come to the aid of needy Kenyans. Our government can sure do better than this,” Said Mr Joshua Mugera Mukami.

Others claimed that the staff at the High Commission were rude and unprofessional.

“Our people are in distress and all we get at that Mission are messages asking us to write emails. Who has time for emails when in distress?” wondered Jane Kananu on Twitter.

“No one seems to have any helpful information there,” said Margaret Kirubi in a comment posted on the High Commission’s Facebook page.

This comes in the wake of xenophobic attacks in the country.

Efforts to reach the High Commissioner on Friday were unsuccessful as phones to the Pretoria based office went unanswered.

However, a notice posted on the High Commission’s website urges Kenyans in distress to “get in touch with community leader,” or fill an embedded form.

“Due to ongoing attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, we encourage you to stay in touch with Kenyan Community Leaders in your area. Should you require assistance from the High Commission relating to attacks, please fill in the attached form and email to [email protected],” reads the statement.

While some Kenyans welcomed the move, others wondered who the community leaders were.

“This is a very encouraging and supportive gesture, Kenya Iende mbele,” wrote Grandy Momanyi.

“I hadn’t heard about the Community leaders until now,” said Rev Sammy Njacha.

“This notwithstanding, we still should be able to talk to someone at the Kenyan Mission,” tweeted John Nyaga of Pretoria.

Ms Jean Kamau became the High Commissioner in January after serving as the acting Ambassador to the United States. She had been nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta as the ambassador to Bangkok Thailand but was later posted in South Africa.

Complaints of ineptitude dogged her stint in Washington, with many Kenyans residing in the United States claiming the staff under her was arrogant and did not answer phone calls.

However, on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Amina Mohamed said her ministry was making plans to evacuate Kenyans living in South Africa following the xenophobic attacks.

In an interview with Nation FM, Ms Mohamed said so far there were no Kenyan casualties in the attacks that have caused uproar.

"We don't have any direct casualties. We have planned for an evacuation but some of the Kenyans have actually voluntarily moved to a camp but not in large numbers, but that could increase," she said.