In a sensitive diplomatic development between Kenya and Somalia, Kenyan authorities deported Somalia’s Second Deputy Prime Minister, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, over allegations that he had fraudulently obtained a Kenyan passport. The action followed a routine immigration inspection at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where officials reportedly became suspicious about his possession of a Kenyan passport. The incident has renewed discussions over border security, identity verification and immigration controls between the two neighbouring countries.
According to a police report, Haji arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday afternoon carrying a valid Somali diplomatic passport and a valid Kenyan visa. During routine immigration checks, officials allegedly suspected that he had also acquired a Kenyan passport through fraudulent means. He was subsequently questioned and asked to clarify the circumstances surrounding the alleged document.
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During the interrogation, authorities reportedly requested that Haji surrender the suspected Kenyan passport for verification. However, according to the police report, he declined to hand over the document and allegedly stated that he would produce it only before a court of law. Following the exchange, he was held in the VIP lounge at the airport while immigration and security officials completed the necessary administrative procedures.
After the inquiry, Kenyan authorities issued him a return ticket to Mogadishu. The police report states that he departed for Somalia early on Thursday morning. He was not granted entry into Kenya and was returned under applicable immigration procedures.
Somalia’s government had not issued an official response at the time the report was published. Reuters also reported that attempts to obtain comments from Haji and Somalia’s Information Minister were unsuccessful before publication.
The incident is considered significant because Kenya hosts a large Somali community and the two countries have long maintained close cooperation on regional security, border management and trade. Kenya also plays an important role in peacekeeping efforts across the Horn of Africa, making bilateral security coordination particularly important.
Experts note that if a foreign national is found to have fraudulently acquired another country’s passport, the matter extends beyond immigration violations and may raise serious national security concerns. Such cases typically involve detailed verification of identity records, citizenship documentation, travel history and border control procedures.
Kenyan authorities have indicated that the matter remains under investigation. If sufficient evidence of alleged passport fraud is established, further legal action may follow under the country’s applicable laws. Investigators are continuing to examine immigration records, official documents and other evidence, while the incident is also expected to attract diplomatic attention given that it involves a senior government official from a neighbouring country.
