Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Monica Juma said on Wednesday foreigners who commit crime can only be deported to their country of origin, as per the international standards/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 10 – The Kenyan Government has defended its decision to deport five Taiwanese to mainland China after a protest from Taiwan, which says the move was inhumane.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Monica Juma said on Wednesday foreigners who commit crime can only be deported to their country of origin, as per the international standards.
“There is no standoff between Kenya and Taiwan, we only deported their nationals from where they had come from,” she said.
Early this year, the government had also deported several foreigners among them Taiwanese, who were arrested in 2004, for engaging in illegal cyber operations.
Juma said the government was yet to receive any complaint from the Taiwan Embassy despite claims that they have already written a protest letter.
The PS insisted that this is the common practice across all parts of the world saying it was not an isolated case, which also saw 35 Chinese deported.
“This was not the first time Kenya has deported people; we are yet to receive any complaint but if it comes, we shall address it,” she stated. “They were deported in accordance to Kenyan laws and international practices.”
A Nairobi court acquitted the 40 foreigners due to insufficient evidence in the charges of illegally running a telecommunications system, conspiracy to commit felony and engaging in organised crime.
Taiwan’s envoy to Kenya, John Chen had over the weekend asked the government not to deport them to China.
Meanwhile, the Government of China is set to train several Kenyan officials and students on cyber crime, according to Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed.
Mohamed says the training will enhance the country capacity in detecting and curbing the menace, even as the country continue to develop stringent legal measures, in a bid to seal all possible loopholes.
“We are working together in that area so that we can be able to prevent cyber crime from occurring in our country,” she said.
Amina was speaking after a meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, where they also discussed about regional and bilateral issues, ranging on trade and security.
On his part, the Chinese Foreign Ministers assured Kenya and other IGAD states of their support in resolving the conflict in the Africa’s youngest nation, South Sudan.
Wang said China will not pull out of South Sudan investments and urged Kenya to continue its leadership role in resolving crisis in the troubled neighbour.
He assured that his government supports Kenya and IGAD’s position in addressing the South Sudan situation.
He also commended Kenya’s role in Somali peace initiatives, saying Kenya and China should continue working to entrench stability in the Horn of Africa country.
On other matters, Wang said China supported the Africa Union’s position on the reforms, pointing out that his country was against the domination of the UN Security Council by developed countries at the expense of developing nations.
About The Author
