'Kenya is a safe haven': Foreign Affairs PS denies gov't involvement in Kizza Besigye abduction in Nairobi

Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Dr Korir SingOei has dismissed reports indicating that Kenyan security agents may have been involved in the abduction of prominent Ugandan politician Dr Kizza Besigye.

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 later 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, which were all recovered in Nairobi.

Speaking on Citizen TV's JKLive Show on Wednesday, Dr SingOei explained that there are established protocols for the arrival of national leaders in Kenya, both from the government and opposition, which can include facilitating transport 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, SingOei added, the government had allegedly not been informed about his visit to Nairobi, making it difficult for local authorities to facilitate his trip and offer additional security.

"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 is 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.

Further, SingOei reassured that Kenya remains a safe haven for many, despite what he termed 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 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."