Kenya apologises to UAE for gaffe
Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’ told the Nation that he was expecting a report on Friday from a team of Immigration officials who had travelled to the Gulf state to sort out the visa debacle. Photo/ FILE
Kenya has apologised to the United Arab Emirates for an immigration blunder that saw top UAE officials deported.
A UAE newspaper, Gulf News, reported that Kenyan officials had met their Abu Dhabi counterparts and apologised for the diplomatic spat.
The paper quoted Sultan Al Qurtasi Al Nuaimi, the director of consular affairs at the Foreign ministry, saying the two governments were working on the new visa requirements for Kenyans.
There had been an outcry over requirements that one has to have a degree to fly into or through the UAE. Gulf News quoted Sultan Al Nuaimi saying this week’s visit by the Kenyans “was to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries”.
“The two countries maintain deep-rooted relations and Kenyan visitors are always welcome in the UAE,” he said.
Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang’ told the Nation on Thursday that he was expecting a report on Friday from a team of Immigration officials who had travelled to the Gulf state to sort out the visa debacle.
Mr Kajwang’ was optimistic that the rules could have been relaxed “as some very senior government officials passing through Dubai got a visa and no questions were asked.”
He said a PS and two parastatal chiefs had been granted visas with no demands for proof of degrees. But by the time we went to press, we had not verified this.
Overzealous officers
Similarly, government spokesman Alfred Mutua said a report from the delegation would be available on Friday morning. Attempts to reach Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula failed as his phones were off.
Aides said the minister was in China with President Kibaki. Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Thuita Mwangi was also said to be in China.
Meanwhile, the UAE has denied reports that one of the four people deported from Kenya was a member of the royal family. Sultan Al Nuaimi said the deportations were a result of “misconduct by airport officials.”
The diplomatic row and visa debacle was sparked by overzealous officers from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit in Mombasa during the Easter weekend.
