The new admission puts Kenya in a very tight diplomatic spot, especially as Nairobi had initially claimed that it was not involved in Besigye’s abduction.
Ugandan Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi has uncovered new and surprising details regarding Kenya’s involvement in the abduction of opposition leader Kizza Besigye from Nairobi. This is coming just days after Kenya had denied any involvement in the alleged abduction.
Baryomunsi who appeared on Uganda’s NBS TV on Friday, November 22 revealed that “The Government of Uganda was in touch with the Government of Kenya in the arrest of Kizza Besigye”, further questioning how the arrest could have occurred without Kenya’s full knowledge and support.
“How would you arrest somebody in the middle of Nairobi and then bring him back to Uganda without the full knowledge and support of the government in Kenya?” he posed
The new admission puts Kenya in a very tight diplomatic spot, especially as Nairobi had initially claimed that it was not involved in Besigye’s abduction.
Ugandan politicians who form part of the opposition are Kizza Besigye (left) and Bobi Wine. /BOBI WINE
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Korir Sing’oei who had appeared on Citizen TV‘s JKLive Show on Wednesday, November 20, 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.
He 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.”
Sing’oei further 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.
“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.
“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.”
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.
Principal Secretary in the State Department of Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’oei. /FILE