Coup claims on deported Zimbabwean activist Kagoro baseless – lobby

The Open Society Foundation has condemned the detention and denial of entry of its managing director of programmes Brian Kagoro by Kenyan authorities.

It described the move as arbitrary and lacking due process.

His deportation has ignited a debate on the role of activists in the region.

The foundation said Kagoro was held for more than 10 hours upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, where he was questioned by officials before being denied entry and placed on a return flight to Johannesburg.

The organisation said no formal charges were presented to Kagoro and that he was not provided with written reasons explaining the decision to bar him from entering the country.

According to OSF, the removal order authorising the airline to return him to South Africa cited Section 54 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011 — a provision that relates to documentation-related offenses.

The foundation dismissed as baseless reports circulating in sections of the media alleging that Kagoro was involved in financing or coordinating political unrest in Kenya. It said no evidence had been presented to support the claims.

“Brian Kagoro has never been charged with or convicted of any criminal offence,” the statement said.

Kagoro, a Zimbabwean constitutional lawyer and Pan-Africanist, has worked across Africa on governance, regional integration, global justice and rule of law issues.

The foundation said he has lawfully resided in Kenya for extended periods over the past decade.

Open Society also rejected suggestions that it funds or organises political protests, saying its work supports lawful civic engagement and accountable governance.

The organisation said it has operated in Kenya since 2005, working with institutions and partners— including government actors — on economic policy, climate change and democratic governance initiatives.

Emphasising the principles of transparency and due process, the foundation said it has always complied with Kenyan laws, including immigration regulations and is seeking formal clarification from authorities through appropriate channels.

The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya) Thursday condemned the expulsion of Kagoro.

Kagoro, a renowned Pan-Africanist and the Africa Director of the Open Society Foundations, was denied entry into Kenya on the afternoon of February 22.

ICJ Kenya said conflating legitimate civic education programmes with unlawful dissent is a dangerous departure from constitutional principles.

“Empowering citizens to know, understand and claim their constitutional rights is a fundamental pillar of any democracy. It is the very essence of civic engagement, not a threat to state security,” it said.

ICJ Kenya warned that the incident reflects what it described as a broader pattern of repression targeting civil society actors, human rights defenders and independent media.

The organisation argued that such actions undermine Kenya’s post-2010 democratic gains, noting that the Constitution of Kenya (2010) — widely celebrated for its transformative and human rights-centred provisions — was itself a product of sustained civil society advocacy.

According to security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, Kagoro made three separate visits to Nairobi in 2025, during which he allegedly pledged in closed-door meetings to raise $1.2 million (Sh150 million) to support activist initiatives.

Authorities claim the funds were intended to capitalise on economic grievances and reignite the 2024 Gen Z protests that rattled President William Ruto’s administration.

Those demonstrations — largely youth-led and coordinated online — forced the government to withdraw controversial tax proposals and triggered weeks of unrest. Protesters at the time insisted the movement was organic and not driven by foreign influence.

“We have evidence, gathered painstakingly over the last six months, establishing a deliberate strategy to manufacture civil unrest,” a senior security official said.

The foundation has denied the claims.

The decision to deport Kagoro follows what officials describe as a broader policy shift by top security organs barring foreign nationals from engaging in political activities within Kenya.

Investigators have pointed to alleged links between Kagoro’s activities and the Open Society Foundations, the global philanthropic network established by billionaire George Soros.