Kenya, June 26, 2026 - Kenya has deported Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister after immigration officials at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) allegedly linked him to a Kenyan passport, setting the stage for what could become a major diplomatic row between the two neighbouring countries.
According to a police incident report seen by this publication, Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Jibril Abdirashid Haji, arrived at JKIA's Terminal 2 from Mogadishu aboard Saacid Airline Flight X20680 on 24 June using a Somali diplomatic passport and a valid Kenyan visa.
The report states that "during the immigration routine clearance at immigration desk, he was suspected to have fraudulently acquired a Kenyan passport."
Police further state that "when interrogated, he admitted and when asked to produce the passport, he declined to surrender and claimed that he can only produce it in a court of law."
According to the report, the senior Somali official was subsequently "held at VIP Lounge in Terminal 2" before being issued with a ticket on Daallo Airline Flight D3301 for his return to Mogadishu.
The report adds that Mr Haji "departed today on 25/06/2026 at 0645hrs with no incident reported."
The police document identifies the official as the holder of Somali diplomatic passport No. D00018434, valid until 18 September 2029.
The deportation of such a high-ranking government official is highly unusual and is likely to attract regional and international attention given the close political, economic, and security ties between Kenya and Somalia.