Kenya repatriates four Turkish nationals amidst abduction uproar

The Kenyan government has confirmed that it has repatriated four(4) Turkish nationals back to their home country, Turkey--also known as Türkiye.

They were residing in Kenya as refugees under the United Nations (UN) protection.

The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs confirmed this through a press statement on Monday.

"Kenya confirms that four(4) Nationals of the Republic of Türkiye were repatriated to their home country on Friday October 18, 2024, at the request of the government of Turkiye," said the Principal Secretary State Department of Foreign Affairs Korir Singoei.

Dr Singoei further clarified that the individuals were living in Kenya as refugees, but were sent back after Türkiye asked for their return.

He said that Kenya agreed to this request because of the close ties between the two countries.

He also said Kenya received assurances from Turkish authorities that the four(4) people will be treated with dignity in keeping with national and international law.

The government said it remains committed to protecting refugees in the country.

"We will keep the details of these individuals private," Dr Singoei added.

The Kenyan government assured the public that it is focused on the safety and well-being of the over 780,000 refugees living in the country.

This development comes high on heels of an uproar since Friday last week after it emerged that some seven(7) foreigners, majority from Turkey, had been abducted in Kenya.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenya on Saturday expressed deep concern over the abduction of seven(7) Turkish asylum seekers and one British national in Nairobi.

The victims and their families were reportedly kidnapped by unknown individuals.

ICJ Kenya Chair Protas Saende emphasized in a statement that Kenya has a legal and moral obligation under international law to protect refugees from refoulement--the forced return to countries where they face persecution or human rights violations. 

“The principle of non-refoulement is crucial, and any violation of this principle is not only a breach of international law, but also Kenya’s Constitution and Refugee Act of 2021,” said Mr Saende.

ICJ Kenya warned that the country, once regarded as a safe haven for asylum seekers, is now becoming hostile. 

The Friday incident, ICJ said, is part of a disturbing trend of growing threats to refugees, with the country witnessing 36 cases of unlawful deportations in 2023 alone. 

The organisation urged the government to act swiftly to locate the missing individuals, protect them, and ensure they are not forcibly returned to Turkey, where they face a “grave risk of persecution”.

"Kenya must uphold its obligations transparently and in accordance with international laws to protect those seeking refuge within its borders," Mr Saende added.

ICJ Kenya said it was actively monitoring the situation, calling for urgent action to safeguard asylum seekers from such unlawful abductions.