Somali envoy barred from entering prison

A diplomat was at the weekend refused entry at Shimo la Tewa Maximum Security Prison.

Somali ambassador Mohammed Nur wanted to visit more than 100 Somali pirates being held at the jail.

Frantic efforts by the envoy to enter the prison were thwarted by junior prison officers who asked him to first get clearance from their seniors or the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Prison sources told the Nation that the ambassador was expected to visit the facility on Friday.

“There is no way we can allow him in on a weekend without orders from our bosses,” said a senior warder who requested not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Coast provincial prisons boss James Kodieny could not be reached for comment.

Dejected, the ambassador left the prison for Mombasa’s Central Police Station where 14 Somalis are held for being in the country illegally.

The 14, whose cases have been concluded, will be moved to Dadaab refugee camp.

“I was not barred from entering the prison, maybe it is because today is not an official working day. I will stay around until Monday or Tuesday and try again … I wanted to see them and establish their well-being,” Mr Nur said.

The ambassador observed that piracy would not be eradicated in Somalia due to insecurity and illegal fishing.

He urged Somali refugees to obey Kenyan laws.