Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Korir Sing'Oei has said the government was right to heed to the request by the government of Turkey to repatriate four Turkish nationals.
During a Roundtable Discussion with the Civil Society on the Review of Foreign Policy on Thursday, August 24, the PS said the repatriation was guided by the principle of non-interference with the internal affairs of other states.
“Harbouring subversive elements accused of undertaking activities detrimental to a friendly country posed both a diplomatic and humanitarian dilemma to Kenya,” the PS stated.
He added, "The repatriation, therefore, was not a departure from the humanitarian principle and ethos for persons fleeing conflict and persecution that Kenya strongly endorses, but a crucial balancing of interests for the bigger good," Sing’Oei said.
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In a statement on Monday, October 21, Sing’oei said the four Turkish nationals who had been living in Kenya as refugees were repatriated at the request of the Turkish government.
"Kenya confirms that four Nationals of the Republic of Türkiye were repatriated to their home country on Friday, 18 October 2024, at the request of the government of Turkiye.
''Kenya acceded to this request on the strength of the robust historical and strategic relations anchored on bilateral instruments between our respective countries," he said.
Sing’oei added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been assured that the four will be treated with dignity after their arrival in the Middle East country.
"Kenya is committed to the privacy and confidentiality of the repatriated individuals and will refrain from responding to media inquiries on the subject until the ongoing inter-agency review of the case is complete.
"Kenya assures the international community of its unswerving commitment to the protection and promotion of refugee rights as prescribed under the national and international law," he added.
