First group of Kenyan nationals evacuated from Sudan arrives in the country

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale receiving evacuees from Sudan at JKIA on Monday, April 24. [Facebook, KDF]

The first group of Kenya nationals stuck in Sudan jetted back into the country on Monday night.

The group of 40 was evacuated following the unrest in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, that has resulted in hundreds of deaths.

The evacuees, mostly University students, were received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. The plane carrying the group landed on Monday night at around 10.30 pm.

Duale commended the multi-agency team formed to facilitate the evacuation process and assured that the government remained committed to ensuring a safe return of all Kenyan citizens in Sudan who wish to come home.

The CS urged all Kenyans stranded in Sudan to continue registering with the State Department for Diaspora Affairs for logistical purposes.

"Kenya strongly believes that tragic as the situation in Sudan is in terms of loss of lives, destruction of property, and displacement of civilians, it can and should be reversed quickly. We join those calling for the immediate cessation of hostilities, observance of a humanitarian ceasefire, and return to the negotiation table," said Duale.

Duale affirms that Kenya associates herself with the position of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), that the warring groups should cease hostilities.

A power struggle between the regular army and a powerful paramilitary force has led to violence across Sudan for over a week.