‘Kenya Is a Safe Haven!’ – Ruto PS Declares Despite Besigye’s Abduction In Nairobi
Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Dr. Korir SingOei has denied accusations that Kenyan security forces were engaged in the kidnapping of famous Ugandan politician Dr Kizza Besigye.
Besigye was allegedly kidnapped on Saturday, November 16, while in Nairobi for a book launch hosted by Narc-Kenya party head Martha Karua.
He was eventually handed up to Ugandan officials, who accused him on Wednesday of attempting to undermine national security and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, all of which were confiscated in Nairobi.
On Citizen TV’s JKLive Show on Wednesday, Dr. SingOei emphasized that there are defined protocols for the entry of national leaders in Kenya.
Korir Sing’oei: Kizza Besigye’s abduction is not the act of the Kenyan government or our security officials. Kenya is a safe haven for many people and has been for many years #JKLive @KoinangeJeff pic.twitter.com/MZ7KlgUSqE
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) November 20, 2024
He asserted that leaders from both the administration and the opposition primarily focus on facilitating transportation and security.
“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.”
In Besigye’s case, however, Sing’oei said that the government had not been told of his visit to Nairobi, making it difficult for local officials to assist his trip and provide additional security.
“The circumstances surrounding his travel are not known to us because no information was shared with us before he travelled,” said the PS.
“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.”
“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,” he added, underscoring that officials from the Interior Ministry had confirmed the same.
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Furthermore, Sing’oei reaffirmed that Kenya remains a safe refuge for many, despite what he described as a tragic episode.
“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 a Safe Haven!’ – Ruto PS Declares Despite Besigye’s Abduction In Nairobi
