According to media reports, the incident occurred on Sunday at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Kenyan immigration officials reportedly declined to admit the senior Somali official before placing him on a return flight to Mogadishu.
Several media outlets claimed Bukhaari was denied entry because of the Kenyan passport he allegedly presented while travelling. However, authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact circumstances surrounding the travel document.
As of publication, neither the Government of Kenya nor the Government of Somalia had issued an official statement confirming the incident or explaining the reasons behind the reported decision.
Somalia Reportedly Summons Kenyan Envoy
Media reports further claimed that Somalia had summoned Kenya's ambassador for talks on Monday, July 27, to seek clarification over the reported denial of entry involving several Somali federal officials.
If confirmed, the move could increase diplomatic tensions between the two neighbouring countries. However, the reported summons had not been independently verified at the time of publication.
The reported incident comes weeks after Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, was also reportedly denied entry into Kenya over allegations linked to a Kenyan passport.
According to reports at the time, Haji arrived at JKIA on a Saacid Airlines flight from Mogadishu carrying a valid Somali diplomatic passport and a Kenyan visa. Immigration officials reportedly questioned him over claims that he also possessed a Kenyan passport allegedly acquired irregularly.
Sources familiar with the matter alleged that the Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged possessing a Kenyan passport but declined to surrender it. The same sources claimed he argued that any dispute over the document should be resolved through the courts.
Neither the Kenyan nor Somali governments have officially confirmed the allegations surrounding either incident. Further details are expected once both governments issue formal statements.
