Amnesty says 359 deported to Somalia

At least two people have died and hundreds deported since the beginning of a security crackdown in April, says Amnesty International.

The Operation Usalama Watch followed an attack in Mombasa on March 23 and explosions in Eastleigh on March 31, which claimed at least 10 people and injured scores others.

The campaign mainly targeted suspected terrorists and illegal immigrants. Security officers combed estates in Nairobi and rounded up suspected terrorists and illegal foreigners.

Those arrested were locked up at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, for screening and those found without valid documents were deported.

In one swoop on May 4, more than 150 Congolese refugees were arrested while attending a church service in Kasarani. They were taken to the Dadaab refugee camp despite their pleas that they were in the country legally, Amnesty says.

According to Amnesty International report published on May 27, 359 people have been deported to Somalia.

Some 83 people were expelled on April 9, 91 on April 17, 87 people on May 3 and a further 98 people on May 20, the report says.

“There is very little information on the profile of these people prior to expulsion, given that they were given no legal access and no organisation was given access to them prior to departure,” the report says.

At least three people expelled were documented refugees, while it is reported that others had cards form foreign countries or claimed they had refugee or alien status in Kenya but did not have their documents.

Others claimed their documents were confiscated or destroyed following arrest.

An 85-year-old man and eight children were among the last to be expelled on May 20, the report notes.