Somali news outlets reported late Monday that Kenya had denied a number of lawmakers access into the country, the latest round of a diplomatic standoff between the two neighbours.
Radio Dalsan said Somalia’s deputy minister of Water and Energy, Osman Libah as well as Senators Ilyas Ali Hassan and Zamzam Dahir had been left stranded at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, JKIA, in Nairobi, African News reported.
A Voice of America journalist disclosed that all three persons were carrying diplomatic passports by the Kenyan authorities roundly rejected issuing them visas.
Harun Maruf quoted sources that said other government officials who were allowed into Kenya were those that produced alternative passports upon the refusal of the Somali version.
Somali laws allows citizens to hold dual citizenship. Most high ranking government officials hold passports of other countries.