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The recent alleged kidnapping of Ugandan veteran opposition chief and human rights defender Kizza Besigye in Nairobi and the subsequent extradition underscores the growing fear Kenya is increasingly becoming a dangerous place for foreigners perceived to be critical of their respective governments.

Though the government has denied knowledge of the events surrounding Besigye’s disappearance while in Nairobi, Ugandan officials confirmed the politician was arrested on Saturday over illegal possession of a pistol. How Ugandan security agents could arrest Besigye without the knowledge of their Kenyan counterparts remains a deep mystery.

Besigye was scheduled to attend the launch of a book by former Kenyan minister Martha Karua.

Family members claimed he was being held in a military jail.

Coming only four months after Kenyan security agencies arrested 36 members of Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, one of Uganda’s main opposition groups, and deported them to Kampala, where they were indicted on terrorism charges, the move sends the wrong signals about Kenya’s position on upholding international human rights.

Days after the FDC activists were extradited, masked men abducted four Turkish refugees at gunpoint in Nairobi. After a series of denials, Kenya said the four, who were recognised by the UN as refugees, were deported at the request of the Turkish government, which had wanted them on treason charges.

Kenya is a signatory to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and has long been viewed as a safe haven for political dissidents and refugees from neighbouring countries. These actions contradict Kenya’s historical commitment to human rights and raise serious questions about the country’s treatment of political refugees and asylum seekers.

Besigye has long been an outspoken critic of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986. As a result, he has faced persecution, including multiple arrests and charges. For years, he has sought refuge in Kenya, where many Ugandans fleeing political persecution find sanctuary.

Forcibly deporting Besigye to Uganda contradicts Article 18 of Kenya’s Constitution, which guarantees the right to personal liberty. Kenya is obligated under international law not to deport individuals to countries where they may face persecution or torture. Besigye’s safety and freedom are now at risk. The international community must hold Kenya accountable for these actions.