The Open Society Foundations (OSF) has condemned what it described as the arbitrary detention and deportation of its Managing Director of Programs, Brian Kagoro, by Kenyan authorities.
Incident at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
According to a statement released by OSF, Kagoro was detained for more than 10 hours upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. He was questioned by national intelligence officers before being denied entry into the country.
Authorities issued a removal order directing the airline to return him to Johannesburg, citing Section 54 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011, a provision related to documentation offences.
OSF maintains that Kagoro has never been charged with or convicted of a criminal offence, describing the move as lacking transparency and due process.
Allegations of Political Involvement
Reports circulated in some media outlets alleged that Kagoro was involved in financing or coordinating political unrest in Kenya. OSF categorically rejected these claims as baseless and defamatory, noting that no evidence has been presented to substantiate them.
“We categorically reject as baseless the allegations circulated by certain media outlets, citing unnamed sources, that Kagoro was involved in financing or coordinating political unrest in Kenya,” the foundation stated.
Profile of Brian Kagoro
OSF emphasized Kagoro’s credentials as a constitutional lawyer and Pan-Africanist, with decades of experience in governance, regional integration, global justice, and rule of law issues across Africa. The foundation noted that Kagoro has lawfully resided in Kenya for extended periods over the past decade.
Call for Clarification
The organization reiterated its commitment to complying with Kenya’s immigration laws and said it is seeking formal clarification through appropriate channels.
“Transparency and due process are essential principles in democratic societies,” OSF added.
