List of Refugees & Asylum Seekers Abducted in Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya – November 21, 2024
The safety of foreign nationals in Kenya has come under intense scrutiny following a series of high-profile abductions in Nairobi, sparking international concern and urgent calls for enhanced protection measures for asylum seekers and refugees.
Ethiopian Businessman Abducted in Broad Daylight(2021)
An Ethiopian businessman Samson Tekklemichael was allegedly abducted in broad daylight in 2021 in Nairobi’s Kileleshwa area. A viral video capturing the incident shows a traffic policeman stopping Tekklemichael’s Bentley in the middle of the road. The businessman is then forcibly removed from his vehicle by two men and bundled into another car. Tekklemichael is heard pleading with onlookers to record the incident. His wife, Milen Mezgebo, reported that her husband called her shortly after the abduction to inform her of his situation before his phone was disconnected.
Tekklemichael’s car was left in the middle of the road, and Mezgebo later collected it, reporting the incident to Kilimani Police Station and the Ethiopian Embassy in Kenya. Kilimani Police Commander Andrew Muturi confirmed that DCI detectives are investigating the matter, but no substantial progress has been reported, raising fears for Tekklemichael’s safety.
Turkish Citizens Kidnapped Under Mysterious Circumstances(2024)
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In another alarming incident, Saadet Tasci, the wife of a Turkish citizen abducted in Kenya, made a desperate plea on social media for the safe return of her husband and six other Turkish nationals. The abductions, believed to be politically motivated, have raised concerns about potential involvement by the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation (MIT).
The abductees, including Mustafa Genç, Hüseyin Yeşilsu, Alpaslan Taşçı, and Öztürk Uzun, were under UN protection in Kenya for two years. Amnesty International Kenya has condemned the abductions, highlighting a breach of international refugee laws and raising alarms about the safety of asylum seekers in Kenya.
Ugandan Opposition Figure Allegedly Kidnapped(2024)
The situation has been further complicated by the reported kidnapping of Dr. Kizza Besigye, a prominent Ugandan opposition figure. According to his wife, Winnie Byanyima, Besigye was abducted in Nairobi during a book launch event and is now allegedly held in a military jail in Kampala, Uganda. Byanyima, a human rights advocate and executive director of UNAIDS, has called for his immediate release, questioning the legality of his detention in a military facility.
Past Abductions Involving Turkish Intelligence(2021)
The recent spate of abductions in Nairobi echoes a similar incident from 2021, when Turkish security services detained Selahaddin Gulen, the nephew of exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, and brought him back to Turkey. Selahaddin Gulen was accused of belonging to an outlawed organization led by his uncle. His wife, Serriye, reported that her husband had gone missing in Nairobi in early May. Turkey’s Anadolu news agency later published a photograph of him in handcuffs, flanked by Turkish flags. The agency did not clarify whether the capture, carried out by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), had been made in agreement with Kenya.
Fethullah Gulen, accused of masterminding a failed military coup in 2016, has denied any involvement. Following the coup attempt, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has purged state institutions, detaining or dismissing over 100,000 public sector employees with alleged ties to the Gulen movement, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization. The Turkish government has also conducted numerous operations abroad to capture individuals associated with the Gulen movement, particularly in Africa and the Balkans.
The need to protect asylum seekers
These incidents have heightened concerns over the protection of foreign nationals and political dissidents in Kenya. Observers fear that the country could become a dangerous zone for those seeking asylum from politically unstable regions, with state and international mechanisms potentially being undermined by covert operations.
As investigations continue, the families of the abducted individuals, along with human rights advocates, are calling for further violations of international protections afforded to refugees and asylum seekers.
