NAIROBI
At least four Kenyans have been wounded in South Sudan following fighting in capital Juba over what has been termed as an attempted coup.
Kenya's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that all four have been discharged from the hospital.
Hundreds of other Kenyans are headed home in a convoy of 15 buses, two of which are carrying only Kenyan citizens while the other 13 also have other nationalities from the east African region, which left Juba on Tuesday.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed told journalists in Nairobi that the government was facilitating the return of Kenyans.
She said leaders in the eastern Africa region and Horn of Africa were monitoring the situation in South Sudan through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Panic has gripped the families of thousands of Kenyans working in South Sudan following the violence.
Some Kenyans had on Wednesday started waiting at Busia at the border with Uganda for their kin, who were expected to arrive later on Thursday from Kampala aboard the buses from Juba.
"Everybody is alert here and we keep checking with the immigration authorities for news of when the buses will arrive," Micheal Otieno, a Busia resident with relatives in Juba told Anadolu Agency (AA) on the phone.
"I called my husband on Wednesday and he told me he is still in Juba, safe but I feel very worried," Esther Muthoni said in Nairobi.
A Kenyan working in South Sudan Stephen Jalenga told AA that most Kenyans had expected the national Kenya Airways carrier to resume flights Wednesday to help evacuations, but such efforts did not happen.
"Kenya Airways failed to start evacuations from Juba yesterday... I wish the national carrier could fast track the evacuation exercise. We have the tickets but no flights," he added.
Kenya Airways, which runs at least 18 flights to Juba weekly, issued a statement Wednesday saying it was still monitoring the situation.
However, the privately-owned Fly 540 resumed flights to Juba on Wednesday, and some Kenyans were expected to arrive in Nairobi by mid-day Thursday.
"I am praying for the safety of all of Kenyans in South Sudan, and for those returning, to get home safely and enjoy their Christmas. God is great! Allahu Akbar!" said Otieno Amori in Nairobi.
There are at least 25,000 Kenyans working and doing business in South Sudan, mainly in Juba, and at least 16,000 Kenyans were among the foreigners taking refuge at United Nations camps in Juba and other regions on Wednesday.
South Sudanese Ambassador to Kenya Majok Guandong told Nation TV on Thursday that the situation in Juba was calm as the airport opened for flights.
"Things are back to normal and Kenyans have nothing to fear. Shops are open, Ethiopian Airlines, Ugandan Airlines and others are back to Juba and the government has restored security," the envoy said.
By William Oloo - Anadolu Agency
englishnews@aa.com.tr
