The widening conflict between US-Israeli forces and Iran has plunged the Middle East into one of its most dangerous crises in decades, with shockwaves already reaching Kenyan shores. There are currently an estimated 400,000 Kenyans living and working across the Middle East, with significant concentrations in Dubai, Riyadh and Doha. The aviation chaos also means trade with the Middle East, which surged to Sh164.6 billion in exports last year, now hangs in the balance. His condemnation of retaliatory Iranian strikes on Gulf states drew immediate attention, but the government's diplomatic stance is more nuanced than simple alignment. For the estimated hundreds of thousands of Kenyans working across the Middle East, the situation remains perilous but not yet catastrophic.

Source: The Star March 08, 2026 08:28 UTC