Kenya Enhances Global Support for 1,000+ Citizens Facing Legal Battles Abroad
Mudavadi clarified that the Ministry’s role has nothing to do with determining guilt or innocence but ensuring detainees are treated with respect
Mudavadi clarified that the Ministry's role has nothing to do with determining guilt or innocence but ensuring detainees are treated with respect, their court proceedings are supervised, Photo/KBC Digital
By Juliet Jerotich
The government has intensified its response to help Kenyans who are detained in foreign court cases as more than 1,000 citizens have been arrested in foreign nations. Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi assured that Kenyan missions worldwide are actively providing consular services to guarantee humane treatment and equitable legal treatment of the detainees.
Speaking while receiving Stephen Munyakho—a Kenyan who had been on Saudi Arabia’s death row for 14 years before reclaiming his freedom—Mudavadi affirmed that the government remains keen on supporting its nationals overseas regardless of the circumstances they face.
It is not accurate to argue that the Kenyan government has abandoned its citizens abroad. That is false,” Mudavadi stated. “There are numerous Kenyans with different cases of legal problems around the globe, and our missions operate day and night every day through diplomacy to handle such situations as part of their mandate.”.
Mudavadi clarified that the Ministry’s role has nothing to do with determining guilt or innocence but ensuring detainees are treated with respect, their court proceedings are supervised, and they receive proper assistance from the moment their cases were being reported.
“Our mandate is to offer support, advocate humane treatment, facilitate possible releases, and walk our people through these court processes,” he added.
He announced that nearly 1,000 Kenyans are in detention in foreign countries, where each is exposed to different legal frameworks and issues. The government, through the embassies, keeps following up on these cases, making court appearances, and ensuring that they are given fair trials.
Earlier this month in March, Mudavadi had tabled a report before Parliament outlining the nature of the charges these Kenyans face and urged lawmakers to introduce legislation reforming to improve diaspora cover, including providing legal support to persons being prosecuted abroad.
Mudavadi also proposed adding the Foreign Affairs docket to the National Security Council so that it would be adequately enabled to address such important matters.
The majority of the detainees are not aware of the dangers in law they are exposed to. Our missions facilitate translation, observe court hearings, and keep families in Kenya posted. We cannot always succeed in securing releases but we do our best,” Mudavadi said.
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