The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr Korir Sing’oei has dismissed reports linking Kenyan security agents to the abduction of prominent Ugandan politician Dr Kizza Besigye in Nairobi.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Wednesday November 20, 2024, Sing’oei denied Kenya’s involvement in Besigye’s abduction and subsequent deportation to his home country, Uganda.
Besigye was reportedly abducted on Saturday November 16, while in Nairobi for a book launch hosted by Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua.
He was allegedly handed over to Ugandan authorities, who on Wednesday charged him with plotting to undermine national security and being in unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The Foreign Affairs PS explained that there are established protocols for receiving of national leaders in Kenya, both from the government and opposition.
“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,” he added.
In Besigye’s case, Sing’oei added that the government had allegedly not been informed about his visit to Nairobi, making it difficult for local authorities to facilitate his trip.
“The circumstances surrounding his travel are not known to us because no information was shared with us before he traveled.
“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 is that Besigye was abducted.
“The reality though is that this is not the act of the Kenyan government or our security officials,” he added.
He also emphasized that officials from the Interior Ministry had confirmed the same.
Meanwhile, Sing’oei reassured that Kenya is a very safe haven for many individuals from all over the world, terming Besigye’s abduction as a regrettable incident.
“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 concluded.
