Kenya confirms repatriation of 4 Turkish refugees

NAIROBI, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) — Kenya on Monday confirmed the repatriation of four Turkish nationals to their home country at the request of the government of Türkiye.
The four individuals, who were arrested on Oct. 18 in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, were residing in the country as refugees, said Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Korir SingOei.
Kenya acceded to this request based on the strong historical and strategic relations grounded in bilateral agreements between the two countries, SingOei said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
The four Turkish nationals were allegedly abducted in a coordinated operation across Nairobi, raising concerns about a potential diplomatic crisis.
A local law firm, Mukele & Kakai, which acted on behalf of the four refugees, warned airlines against allowing them to be brought on board. The law firm said that their clients’ vehicle was intercepted by men in balaclavas and they were forcibly taken to unknown destinations.
The lawyers warned that any actions to the contrary would violate international norms regarding the protection of refugees, and those involved could be held culpable for aiding and abetting refoulement.
However, SingOei said the ministry has received assurances from Turkish authorities that the four individuals would be treated with dignity in accordance with national and international law.
“Kenya is committed to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of the repatriated individuals and will refrain from responding to media inquiries on the subject until the ongoing inter-agency investigation is complete,” he said.
SingOei also reassured the international community of Kenya’s commitment to the protection and promotion of refugee rights as prescribed under national and international law.
“As such, the rights, welfare and well-being of the more than 780,000 refugees residing in the country will remain the government’s top priority,” he added. ■