36 South Sudanese nationals arrested by Kenya police over visa row
September 26, 2015 (RUMBEK) – Kenya police have arrested 36 South Sudanese nationals in Eldoret town, west of Nairobi, over immigration issues.
The police reportedly said that fees for immigration visas were not paid and some of the South Sudanese visitors overstayed, exceeding three months period without renewing their visa.
Emmanuel Malual Makuach, resident of Eldoret who was eyewitness in the detention of South Sudanese nationals and described the move of Kenyan police as a retaliation of similar treatment to Kenyans in South Sudan by the South Sudanese authorities, said the situation was serious.
“Now 36 people including women, children and elderly who do not know any language, only mother tongue language are kept in Eldoret police station,” Makuach revealed to Sudan Tribune.
South Sudanese community chairman in Eldoret, Michael Ajak Dau, alleged that he was arrested 12 times only in this year by Kenya immigration police. Dau appealed for cooperation between the two countries.
“Good cooperation between Kenya and South Sudan would be best solution to sort out immigration problem – the South Sudanese Ambassador in Kenya should work to protect the right of South Sudanese national residing in Kenya,” he said.
Dau complained that Marino Deng Ngor, South Sudanese Ambassador to Kenya declined to answer his phone calls after massive arrest occurred in Eldoret, putting more South Sudanese remaining helpless.
“I have called our Ambassador Marino Deng Ngor to help us when arrest was being conducted by Kenya police but ambassador declined in answering his telephone call. Every South Sudanese was helpless,” he said.
(ST)