A group of 7 Kenyan contractors who had been stationed at Kismayu, Somalia before the order to have the border shut indefinitely have sued the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Security headed by Fred Matiang'i.
The seven: Martin Mwangazi, Ignas Kialu Mwanyumba, Shingula Mwangala, Michael Mjala, Gabriel Kennedy, Elia Mwalili and Abas Mutuku, claim to have been stuck in the no-man's-land area at Ras Kaimboni since May 5.
Through Muslims for Human Rights, the seven filed the lawsuit which was presented before Mombasa High Court Justice Eric Ogola.
"The 7 are being denied entry into Kenya at the Kenya-Somali border yet they are registered citizens of the Republic of Kenya with valid passport and travel documents," their lawyer, Lumatete Muchai stated.
They are demanding that CS Matiang'i and the Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai, who was also mentioned in the case as a petitioner, to let them back into the country.
Kenyan authorities at the border town have been thwarting their efforts to make their way back home in adherence to President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive to have the border closed on May 16.
The President had argued that Kenya had no option but to close its borders with Somalia and Tanzania because of a surge in cross-border infections of the coronavirus.
“Therefore, in accordance with the advice by the National Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus, and the National Security Council, I am directing that there shall be a cessation of movement of persons and any passenger ferrying automobiles and vehicles into and out of the territory of the Republic of Kenya through the Kenya-Somalia international border except for cargo vehicles, with effect from midnight today, Saturday 16th, May 2020,” he decreed.
On their part, the 7 Kenyans stuck in Somalia revealed that they had travelled to the volatile country in pursuit of job opportunities and that they were authorised and allowed to proceed to Kismayu by the Kenyan Immigration Department between January 6 and January 25 for a short-term contract.
The Senate Ad Hoc Committee on coronavirus, on May 21, urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the evacuation of broke Kenyans living abroad, with top priority given to students.
Chaired by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, the special committee implored Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo to expedite their passage noting that no Kenyan stuck overseas should be abandoned.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should set a criterion on the eligibility of Kenyans in the diaspora who are in dire need of coming back home but cannot afford air-tickets, giving priority to students,” read the committee's recommendation in part.
