This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
On June 22, 2020, High Court Judge James Makau ruled in favor of Niger's consul to Kenya, Oumarou Moumouni Ali, declaring him a diplomat and thus immune to arrest and deportation. This decision comes nearly a year after Mr. Ali was deported over allegations of international crime links.
According to court filings, Kenya had attempted to expel Mr. Ali in December 2019, but a deportation order issued in December 2018 was not enforced for nine months. The order was issued just one day after Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognized Mr. Ali as Niger's government representative to Kenya.
Mr. Ali's deportation was eventually carried out on August 22, 2019, after immigration officials spent eight days tracing him, who was found hiding in Nyahururu. Intelligence reports had indicated that Mr. Ali was part of an international drug ring that laundered part of its ill-gotten wealth in Kenya using establishments like Kiza Lounge.
Justice Makau's ruling also ordered the Interior ministry to consider Mr. Ali's application for a work permit extension within 30 days from the date of receiving the request, and issue a notification on the decision in writing.
