Kenya deports Somalia’s deputy PM over alleged passport fraud in rare diplomatic incident

Kenya has deported Somalia’s Second Deputy Prime Minister, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, after immigration authorities accused him of possessing a Kenyan passport believed to have been obtained fraudulently, in an unusual incident that could test relations between two neighbouring countries with deep security and economic ties.

• Kenya has deported Somalia’s Second Deputy Prime Minister, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, over allegations that he fraudulently obtained a Kenyan passport.
• The rare move followed an immigration check at Nairobi’s main international airport.
• The incident comes despite close security and economic cooperation between the neighbouring countries.
• It has also raised fresh questions about identity document fraud and its potential diplomatic consequences.

According to a Kenyan police report, Haji arrived at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday using his Somali diplomatic passport, which carried a valid Kenyan visa.

However, an immigration inspection allegedly linked him to a Kenyan passport that authorities suspect was acquired through fraudulent means.

Officials said Haji was questioned over the document but declined to hand it over, insisting he would only produce it before a court of law.

Following the interrogation, Kenyan authorities held the senior Somali official in the airport’s VIP lounge before placing him on a return flight to Mogadishu early on Thursday.

Why the incident matters

The deportation is unusual because it involves one of Somalia’s most senior government officials and comes at a time when Kenya and Somalia continue to deepen cooperation on regional security, trade and economic integration.

Kenya remains one of Somalia’s most important partners in East Africa. Besides hosting a large Somali community, it serves as a major commercial gateway for Somali businesses through Nairobi’s financial sector and the Port of Mombasa.

The two countries also work together in efforts to combat the Al-Shabaab insurgency, while Kenya has for years contributed troops to regional peace support operations in Somalia.

Although neither government has indicated that the incident will affect bilateral relations, the deportation is likely to attract diplomatic attention given Haji’s senior position in the Somali government.

The case also shines a spotlight on the wider challenge of identity and travel document fraud in the region.

Kenyan authorities have intensified efforts in recent years to tighten controls around the issuance and use of national identity documents and passports as part of broader border security and anti-fraud measures.

It remains unclear whether Kenya intends to pursue further investigations into the alleged passport or whether Somalia will formally respond to the deportation.