We Were Not Told Besigye Is Coming To Nairobi: Kenya Govt

At the same time, he dismissed reports indicating that Kenyan security agents may have been involved in the abduction.

Viral Tea Ke Writer Viral Tea Ke Writer
Nov 20, 2024 - 23:30 Updated: Nov 20, 2024 - 23:32
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We Were Not Told Besigye Is Coming To Nairobi: Kenya Govt
Collage of Kizza Besigye and an aerial view of Nairobi CBD. /OBSERVER UG.THREADS

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Korir Sing'oei has revealed that the Kenyan government was not notified about the visit to Nairobi of prominent Ugandan opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, which would have prevented his reported abduction from taking place.

Speaking on Citizen TV's JKLive Show on Wednesday, Dr Sing'oei revealed that the government did not receive information regarding where he was staying and how long he was staying for, which would have allowed him to get extra security and facilitation from local authorities.

At the same time, he dismissed reports indicating that Kenyan security agents might have been involved in the abduction. Besigye was in the Kenyan capital for NARC party leader Martha Karua's launch of her memoir, Against The Tide.

"The circumstances surrounding his travel are not known to us because no information was shared with us before he travelled. We do not know which hotel he was booked to or which apartment he stayed and therefore we were not in a position to necessarily provide him with certain additional security," said the PS.

Principal Secretary in the State Department of Foreign Affairs Korir Sing'oei. /FILE

"But clearly, it seems from the reports I've followed on the news that he (Besigye) was abducted. The reality though is that this is not the act of the Kenyan government or our security officials."

According to the PS, there are established protocols for the arrival of national leaders in Kenya, both from the government and the opposition, which can include facilitating transport and security. 

He termed Besigye a frequent visitor to Kenya, despite revealing that the government was not alerted on his visit. "Dr. Besigye is a frequent visitor; he comes here privately to engage in private business and engagements. What I'm aware of is there are protocols sometimes that relate to the travel of senior government and opposition leaders," he said.

"Often, they actually inform us of their presence in our countries, they can seek some facilitation at the airports and on that basis we are able to even give them security."

Sing'oei however assured that Kenya is a haven for many despite an incident he deemed regrettable and despite a string of international incidents ranging from abductions to deportations, arrests and even killings.

"It could have happened in our soil which is indeed a regrettable development but just to assure Kenya is a safe haven for many people and has been for many years and will be for years to come," he said.  

"Our encouragement to leaders in government or the opposition is that if they are travelling to our country, just out of good practice it might be helpful for us to be much more accountable to them by ensuring that they inform us and therefore we might be able to provide additional security just in case some mischievous elements take advantage of our liberties to be able to carry out heinous acts." 

Kenya is home to about 800,000 refugees which means that the country has bragged about being a safe haven for those escaping consequences. However, the rising episodes of abductions affecting both residents and foreigners alike are threatening this status.

A series of deportations and even killings within its borders paint a negative image of a country that has long prided itself on being a refuge for those fleeing persecution. Besigye's alleged abduction and deportation from Westlands, Nairobi back to Uganda, adds to the growing list of foreigners Nairobi has deported to face uncertain fates.

The four-time presidential contender was last seen in Nairobi on Saturday. The executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Winnie Byanyima, revealed in the wee hours of Wednesday morning that her husband was being held in a military detention in Kampala.

His charge sheet at the Uganda People's Defence Force General Court Martial at Makyinde-Kampala indicated that he committed the alleged offence at Riverside Apartments in Westlands, Nairobi. "Is it safe for opposition politicians in Uganda to be in Kenya and stay there? Is it safe?" Obeid Rutae, Besigye’s lawyer, posed during the trial. 

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