Caleb Amisi has sparked national debate after calling on Kenya to temporarily close its airspace amid escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran.
Amisi, the Member of Parliament for Saboti Constituency and a member of the House Foreign Relations and Defence Committee, issued the warning in a statement posted on X on Saturday, February 28, 2026. His remarks followed coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel targeting key sites inside Iran.
“Kenya must temporarily close her airspace. Our convoluted foreign policy is a risk in the current global conflict. I submit! Kenya needs a renaissance!” Amisi wrote.
The escalation saw strikes reported in major Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom and Karaj. US President Donald Trump announced the commencement of what he described as “major combat operations,” aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes, weakening its military capability, and facilitating political change within the country.
Amisi argued that given Kenya’s strategic location and its diplomatic engagements on the global stage, the country must reassess its exposure to potential retaliatory threats or spillover risks arising from the widening conflict.
His statement has triggered mixed reactions, with some supporting a precautionary approach to national security, while others argue that closing airspace would carry significant economic and diplomatic consequences.
As tensions in the Gulf region continue to rise, the situation is likely to fuel further debate over Kenya’s foreign policy direction and preparedness in the face of global instability.
