Turkish refugee Mustafa Gungor released on Ksh.1M bond amid Human Rights concerns

Ahmet Mustafa Gungor, a Turkish national and registered refugee in Kenya, has been released on a Ksh.1 million personal bond after he was arrested on terrorism-related allegations.

Investigators say substantial digital evidence was extracted from his devices, and he must report weekly to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) for four weeks.

His passport and refugee card have been surrendered, with the case set for mention on February 3, 2026.

Meanwhile, human rights organisations have condemned the arrest, warning that Turkish authorities must not pressure Kenya into targeting political dissidents under the guise of security cooperation.

“Ten days ago, Mustafa Gungor was arrested by the police, but it wasn’t at the request of the Turkish government. The Kenyan government, through a document called a cooperation agreement, was asked to detain him and ask certain questions regarding a post he allegedly made in 2018. As his counsel, we advised him that there was nothing he could answer. He is not a member of any terrorist organisation, does not train anyone, and was formerly a teacher. He is now a consultant in the education sector,” stated Mustafa’s advocate, James Omanga.

Amnesty International CEO Houghton Irungu, on his par,t said, “This case recalls past incidents where Turkish refugees in Kenya have been arbitrarily detained with the possibility of being returned to Turkey under the pretext of terrorism.”

 “I believe Kenya should respect United Nations laws so that refugees in Kenya can be protected here. If there are any issues, they should be addressed here in Kenya rather than extraditing someone to face consequences in their home country,” added Hassan Kinyuwa, chair of Peace League Africa.