British National Newspaper, The Times, has sent a message to Kenya demanding to know why its Africa correspondent, Jerome Starkey, was deported from the country.
In a hard hitting article titled : Kenya Must Explain to the World Why it Has Expelled Our Correspondent, the international paper alludes that President Uhuru Kenyatta is a dictator, afraid of any one trying to question or expose ills in the Government.
"This arbitrary deportation has unnerved all foreign correspondents in the country, raised broader questions about the freedom of the press and rattled investors.
"Some are concerned that the Kenyatta presidency is beginning to mimic the political repression and nest-feathering of one of his notorious predecessors, Daniel arap Moi," The Times stated.
The paper noted that the Government illegally arrested Mr Starkey highlighting that: "Kenya’s high-handed action, however, was in breach of its own constitution and its own penal code."
It further cautioned President Kenyatta stating that the underhanded methods were scaring off foreigners.
"If it (Kenya's Government) wants to be taken seriously, the government of Uhuru Kenyatta must abide by the rule of law," The paper added.
The Times mentioned that Starkey must have been apprehended due to his investigations on the infamous Eurobond scandal, that has marred Kenyatta's presidency.
"Our reporter had been looking into the possibility that members of the political establishment had diverted funds from a Euro- bond issue, a potentially embarrassing story in the context of an already sensitive election," it noted.
According to the paper, Starkey's arrest proved that he was on the right track in his probe, as his work permit and visa status were all in order.
"Mr Starkey’s experience certainly suggests that the anti-corruption group is on the right track. It is not a regular consular case since the correspondent’s work permit and visa status were all in order," The Times suggested.
Starkey was apprehended under unclear circumstances on December 8, 2016 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). He spent over 24 hours in the police cell with no explanation of what led to his arrest.
He was later told that a "security block" had been placed on his passport and deported to London.
