Kenya instructs diplomats in Israel, Iran to stay away from office as airstrikes mount
People watch from a bridge as flames from an Israeli attack rise from Sharan Oil depot in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2025.
Kenya says all its diplomats in Israel and Iran are accounted for, but are under instructions to stay away from their offices as airstrikes between the two countries raise the stakes of war.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei told the Nation that all the staff at the missions in Tel Aviv and Tehran are safe. But they have had to move away from their work stations.
“Our team in Tehran has relocated to the border with Turkey,” he said of the Kenyan embassy in Iran. The Embassy is situated in District 3 of Iran’s capital where Israel had warned civilians to evacuate before it started throwing bombs on security installations in the neighbourhood. So far, the Kenyan embassy said its premises are intact but Korir had earlier asked both countries at war to respect the sanctity of foreign missions.
Damaged buildings are seen following a missile attack from Iran, in Bat Yam on June 15, 2025.
In Tel Aviv, a missile strike on Ramat Gan area hit close to missions including Kenya’s.
A message relayed by Kenya’s ambassador to Israel, Albert Kendagor, said he had instructed staff to work from home and that they were safe, following instructions from local Israeli security agencies.
The developments came as Kenya and other countries in the neighbourhood scrambled to rescue nationals caught in the crossfire. The Kenyan government also issued guidelines to Kenyans living in Israel and Iran, generally asking them to stay out of trouble by following instructions from local authorities but also share contacts in case of an evacuation.
Kenya said citizens in these countries should avoid non-essential movements while exercising extreme caution, monitor local authority advisories on safety and prepare their travel documents in case of urgent exit or evacuation.
Emergency workers inspect an impact site at Soroka Medical Center, following a missile strike from Iran on Israel, in Be'er Sheva on June 19, 2025.
“The safety and well-being of Kenyans abroad remain our utmost priority as the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve,” said Roseline Njogu, the Principal Secretary for Diaspora. “Stay connected and maintain regular contact with family members and inform them of your whereabouts and well-being. The government continues to monitor the situation in the region and remains fully committed to the safety and welfare of Kenyans wherever they are.”
Airlines have suspended flights to these countries due to aerial attacks. Ethiopian Airlines, one of the few African airlines that flies to Israel, has announced that it has suspended its scheduled flights to Tel Aviv due to the ongoing conflict.
This move follows recent Israeli airstrikes deep within Iranian territory, targeting nuclear facilities and weapons manufacturing sites. The strikes also eliminated several senior Iranian military figures, sharply escalating regional instability.
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Israel remains on high alert after Iran launched a wave of missile strikes across central and northern regions, killing dozens of people and leaving a trail of destruction.
Emergency personnel spray water on a bus following a missile attack from Iran, in Herzliya on June 17, 2025.
Kenya maintains relations with both Israel and Iran, even though the two countries are arch-enemies since the 1970s after the Iranian Revolution. To date, Iran says its ambition is to wipe Israel off the face of earth while Israel says it will ensure Iran does not build a nuclear bomb.
Meanwhile, Nairobi says distressed citizens can reach out to Kenyan authorities on the following contacts:
Kenya Embassy in Israel (Tel Aviv), Address: Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv Israel, Phone: +972 3 575 4633 / +972 54 691 4773, Email: [email protected] or contact
Kenya Embassy in Iran (Tehran), Address: Africa Avenue, Tehran, Iran, Phone: +98 21 88667394 / +98 21 88667368, Mr. Peter Kamau-+98 996 387 0992, Email: [email protected].
Additionally, support is available from the State Department for Diaspora Affairs via phone at +254 20 7876000 / +254 114757002 or email [email protected]