Pakistanis are ‘legally’ in Kenya for a 14-day quarantine – hotelier reveals

By , K24 Digital
On Fri, 1 Oct, 2021 10:18 | < 1 min read
Pakistani nationals leaving the Real Gardens apartment along Waiyaki Way where they had been detained by immigration officers PHOTO/COURTESY

A Pakistani hotelier, identified as Pranay Patel , has revealed that his countrymen currently in Nairobi, have legal documentation and are on transit to Saudi Arabia.

Patel, who was speaking to a local TV station on Thursday September 30, 2021, said that the Pakistani nationals were in Kenya for quarantine before transiting to their destination.

He explained that the Saudi government requires that foreigners visiting their country must quarantine for 14 days outside their domiciled country.

"These tourist are here because Saudi Arabia has said that any resident or any visitor going to their country has to stay 14 nights outside their domiciled country. This is to make sure they quarantine fully for Covid-19," he said.

Patel further averred that the visitors are genuine tourist and are in possession of verifiable documents. He stated that the immigrants are solely in Kenya for quarantine and will not meddle with the businesses of Kenyans.

"They are genuine tourists, these are not illegal immigrants and are just people on transit. They have not come here to harm anyone or steal jobs from Kenyans. Until there time to leave reaches, they will not cause any trouble in Kenya," he stated.

The hotelier was speaking after immigration officers and officers drawn from the National Police Service detained a section of the Pakistani nationals at the Real Gardens apartment along Waiyaki way for verification of their documents.

This was after the government issued an order, through the Interior and Citizen Services ministry, announcing a crackdown on foreigners illegally in the country. The order was prompted by the growing numbers of Pakistani nationals in Nairobi estates.