Somali state minister denied entry to Kenya and deported to Mogadishu

NAIROBI, Kenya — Somalia’s State Minister at the Presidency, Abshir Bukhaari, was reportedly denied entry into Kenya by immigration officials upon arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Sunday and later deported back to Mogadishu, according to Kenyan media reports.

Bukhaari, a former First Deputy Speaker of Somalia’s Senate, was prevented from entering the country after authorities raised questions over the travel documents he was carrying, the reports said.

“Sources say Kenyan immigration authorities prevented Bukhaari from entering the country over the Kenyan passport he was travelling with,” Kenyan media reported, without providing further details on the document or the circumstances surrounding the decision.

Kenyan and Somali authorities have not publicly issued official statements confirming the reported deportation or explaining the reasons behind it.

Former Somali federal lawmaker Abdullahi Hashi Abib, who was removed from parliament after criticising the government, made allegations on social media claiming that Bukhaari was linked to investigations involving former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Abib alleged that Bukhaari was carrying two passports, including a Kenyan travel document that authorities suspected had been obtained improperly. He also claimed that Bukhaari was carrying a bag containing a large amount of undisclosed cash. The allegations have not been independently verified.

Abib further alleged that individuals close to President Mohamud were connected to healthcare and daycare fraud schemes in Minnesota in the United States, claiming that proceeds from such schemes were used to purchase property in Nairobi to conceal and launder funds.

He claimed Kenyan authorities were cooperating with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate officials allegedly involved in financial crimes and the movement of illicit funds into Kenyan real estate.

The claims have not been confirmed by Kenyan or U.S. authorities, and no evidence linking Bukhaari or other Somali officials to the alleged fraud schemes has been publicly presented.

The reported incident comes as Somalia and Kenya continue close security and diplomatic cooperation, including joint efforts against Al-Shabaab militants and broader regional stability initiatives.

GAROWE ONLINE