Eleven Kenyans detained in Nigeria for three weeks failed to return home Thursday, despite a promise by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed that they had been released.
The turn of events puts Kenya on the cusp of a diplomatic fi asco after it appeared Nigeria’s government refused to let the 11 Kenyans and their pilots leave after all.
Mohamed on Wednesday evening tweeted the “good news” that the Kenyans had been freed, suggesting an ending to a diplomatic standoff with Nigerian authorities triggered by the manner in which controversial businessman Anthony Chinedu, a Nigerian national, was deported.
“Greetings, good news for Kenya as all the Kenyans held up in Nigeria are on theirway back home,” Mohamed tweeted on Wednesday evening.
Later that night, Government Spokesman Muthui Kariuki announced the release of the Kenyans at a hurriedly convened news conference.
“The Government would like to announce to the country the good news of the release of our brothers who had been held in Nigeria under unclear circumstances,” said Kariuki.
“They will be arriving in the country tomorrow (Thursday).”
But Thursday, the detainees failed to arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as expected. Instead officials blamed the no-show on a hitch at the Lagos airport.
And Mohamed also appeared to change tune saying they were still working on the release of the chartered jet.
“We are still doing the paperwork for the plane and very soon it will be sorted out. We shall have something to tell you within 24 hours,” Mohamed said in Nairobi at a forum on investing in Dubai.
Those held in Nigeria include Captain Tim Kavingo and his colleagues, flight engineer Alaka Ochieng and flight attendants George Kamau and Ismail Adan. First officer Rokshanker Masoud, a Swede, is also with the team.
Kenya Government officials who escorted the deportees were Mr Barasa Okosa, Mr Kariuki Ngugi, Mr Mungathia Muriira, Mr Pardala Dipason, Mr Kivuva Muthama, Mr Andrew Kambi and Mr Mutinda Kakindu.
The Government had announced they would fly back to Nairobi on their chartered aircraft.
Officials and relatives of the victims said they drove from the Kenyan embassy in Nigeria to the airport where the plane is detained ready to fly out.
Issues to clear
But they were stunned when Nigerian authorities informed them they were not aware they had been cleared to let them go.
“They have called and said they will not come today and it is not clear when. There are many issues that need to be cleared,” said a relative of one of those detained.
Mohamed had announced on Wednesday evening that the Kenyan officials would be traveling back to Nairobi after the two sides “resolved” the conflict.
“I wish to thank the Kenyan Mission in Nigeria for the help, care and consular support provided to the Kenyan citizens as we resolved the issue,” she added.
There were reports the plane would arrive in Nairobi in the afternoon, but that didn’t happen.
The Kenyans were detained on arrival at a Lagos airport on June 3 after accompanying controversial Chinedu and two of his countrymen Christopher Nnanyelu and Oluwatosin Adebiyi who were also deported.
Police in Kenya alleged the three are drug traffickers, which occasioned their deportation. It followed a presidential directive that all foreigners linked to criminal activities be kicked out of the country.
The Kenyan officials were detained upon arrival at the airport and accused of flouting local aviation rules.
Chinedu claimed he was behind the detention because he was deported unprocedurally and had left his property and money in Kenya.
Mohammed said earlier the Government was negotiating with Nigeria over the matter to have the victims released. She said Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Thomas Amollo, who had also been hosting the detainees, primarily undertook the negotiations. It is understood that Kenya offered to collaborate with Nigeria on any future deportations related to drug trafficking.
Other officials said the flight manifest indicated the plane had 15 people on board, but Nigeria argued the aircraft actually had 18.
The plane was used to drop other deportees to at least three other West Africannations. At least 30 foreigners from West Africa and Asia who police said were involved in drug trafficking were deported.
- The Standard
Follow @africanewspostThe turn of events puts Kenya on the cusp of a diplomatic fi asco after it appeared Nigeria’s government refused to let the 11 Kenyans and their pilots leave after all.
Mohamed on Wednesday evening tweeted the “good news” that the Kenyans had been freed, suggesting an ending to a diplomatic standoff with Nigerian authorities triggered by the manner in which controversial businessman Anthony Chinedu, a Nigerian national, was deported.
“Greetings, good news for Kenya as all the Kenyans held up in Nigeria are on theirway back home,” Mohamed tweeted on Wednesday evening.
Later that night, Government Spokesman Muthui Kariuki announced the release of the Kenyans at a hurriedly convened news conference.
“The Government would like to announce to the country the good news of the release of our brothers who had been held in Nigeria under unclear circumstances,” said Kariuki.
“They will be arriving in the country tomorrow (Thursday).”
But Thursday, the detainees failed to arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as expected. Instead officials blamed the no-show on a hitch at the Lagos airport.
And Mohamed also appeared to change tune saying they were still working on the release of the chartered jet.
“We are still doing the paperwork for the plane and very soon it will be sorted out. We shall have something to tell you within 24 hours,” Mohamed said in Nairobi at a forum on investing in Dubai.
Those held in Nigeria include Captain Tim Kavingo and his colleagues, flight engineer Alaka Ochieng and flight attendants George Kamau and Ismail Adan. First officer Rokshanker Masoud, a Swede, is also with the team.
Kenya Government officials who escorted the deportees were Mr Barasa Okosa, Mr Kariuki Ngugi, Mr Mungathia Muriira, Mr Pardala Dipason, Mr Kivuva Muthama, Mr Andrew Kambi and Mr Mutinda Kakindu.
The Government had announced they would fly back to Nairobi on their chartered aircraft.
Officials and relatives of the victims said they drove from the Kenyan embassy in Nigeria to the airport where the plane is detained ready to fly out.
Issues to clear
But they were stunned when Nigerian authorities informed them they were not aware they had been cleared to let them go.
“They have called and said they will not come today and it is not clear when. There are many issues that need to be cleared,” said a relative of one of those detained.
Mohamed had announced on Wednesday evening that the Kenyan officials would be traveling back to Nairobi after the two sides “resolved” the conflict.
“I wish to thank the Kenyan Mission in Nigeria for the help, care and consular support provided to the Kenyan citizens as we resolved the issue,” she added.
There were reports the plane would arrive in Nairobi in the afternoon, but that didn’t happen.
The Kenyans were detained on arrival at a Lagos airport on June 3 after accompanying controversial Chinedu and two of his countrymen Christopher Nnanyelu and Oluwatosin Adebiyi who were also deported.
Police in Kenya alleged the three are drug traffickers, which occasioned their deportation. It followed a presidential directive that all foreigners linked to criminal activities be kicked out of the country.
The Kenyan officials were detained upon arrival at the airport and accused of flouting local aviation rules.
Chinedu claimed he was behind the detention because he was deported unprocedurally and had left his property and money in Kenya.
Mohammed said earlier the Government was negotiating with Nigeria over the matter to have the victims released. She said Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Thomas Amollo, who had also been hosting the detainees, primarily undertook the negotiations. It is understood that Kenya offered to collaborate with Nigeria on any future deportations related to drug trafficking.
Other officials said the flight manifest indicated the plane had 15 people on board, but Nigeria argued the aircraft actually had 18.
The plane was used to drop other deportees to at least three other West Africannations. At least 30 foreigners from West Africa and Asia who police said were involved in drug trafficking were deported.
- The Standard
