Why Kenya Deported Turkish Nationals

Nairobi’s move last week was, however, also out of Turkey’s rising influence in the Horn of Africa.

Recently, Turkey sold Kenya some policing equipment. They have also marketed security drones to Kenyan security agencies and took several groups to training in Turkey.

Overall, Turkey has risen on the continent, more than tripling its diplomatic missions from 12 in the early 2000s to 44. They have the largest embassy in Africa in Somalia, where they also have a military training base for Somali national forces.

Dr Sing’oei did allude to this influence.

“And the state in question, namely Turkey, is a big player now in the region as you know. It is involved in Somalia, it’s involved in Ethiopia, it’s involved around our neighborhood. And so when you view a matter of this nature from a peace and security lens, you can see the dilemma that sometimes we’re confronted with.”

Critics have accused Kenya of abandoning an age-old principle in refugee protection.

Under the 1951 Refugee Convention and various African Union and local laws, refugees cannot be sent back to a place they flee from unless they agree to. The exception may be if the refugees are a risk to national security or been involved in serious crime. However, some activists say Kenya should have sent them to a third country instead.

“Sometimes, you know, that is consistent with principle. Sometimes we may take a position that appears completely out of tandem with principle,” Sing’oei explained.

“I just want to reiterate that this does not dilute our humanitarian ethos and our firm belief that those fleeing persecution, those fleeing conflicts are welcome, are welcome to our country,” he said.