Human Rights Groups Criticize Kenya for Collaborating with Other Governments to Abduct Foreign Dissidents

Human rights organizations are raising alarm over Kenya’s alleged collusion with foreign governments in the abduction of political dissidents, following a disturbing trend that has seen figures like Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye forcibly rendited.

Besigye was taken against his will on November 16 while in Nairobi and subsequently transported to a Ugandan prison, according to his wife, Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of UNAIDS. This recent incident follows Kenya’s acknowledgment of deporting four Turkish asylum seekers due to pressure from Turkey, adding to a worrying series of similar occurrences.

Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, remarked, “This is not the first instance of a foreign dissident being abducted on Kenyan soil. It reflects a troubling trend of transnational repression where governments are violating human rights beyond their borders.”

In response, the Kenyan government has denied any involvement in Besigye’s abduction. Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura stated, “We are not aware of any abduction at all as a government.” Requests for additional comments from the Department for Foreign Affairs went unanswered.

Ernest Cornell, a spokesperson for the Kenya Human Rights Commission, condemned the actions of the Kenyan government, asserting, “Kenya’s actions indicate a pattern of accommodating other governments at the expense of human rights. Even if a request is made, we should assess its constitutionality.” He underscored that a nation’s credibility hinges on its commitment to the rule of law.

Besigye has a long history of opposition to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, facing repeated detention and mistreatment. He is currently incarcerated in Luzira Prison in Kampala.

The trend of extradition and abduction in Kenya has historical precedence. In 2021, Nigerian separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu was forcibly taken in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria to face terrorism allegations. The same year, Ethiopian businessman Samson Teklemichael was abducted by unknown assailants in Kenya and remains missing.

A notable case from 1999 involved Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, who was captured in Nairobi and deported to Turkey, where he received a life sentence.

The international outcry surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s abduction, which involved Kenyan authorities, highlights the seriousness of these allegations. Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested in Nairobi on June 19, 2021, held in a private location without access to due process for eight days before being extradited to Nigeria. Reports reveal that despite holding British citizenship, he was not permitted to go through immigration and was subjected to torture during his detention.

The recurring allegations of Kenya’s involvement in the abduction and deportation of dissidents emphasize the urgent need for accountability and the protection of human rights within the region.