NAIROBI, Kenya — Zimbabwean constitutional lawyer and human rights defender Brian Bright Tamuka Kagoro was stopped from travelling to Kenya after being removed from a flight in Addis Ababa, the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) and partner organisations said.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 15, PALU said Kagoro was travelling to Kenya pursuant to a High Court order issued in June 2026 directing that he be allowed entry into the country.
According to PALU, Kagoro had boarded his flight in Addis Ababa when security personnel removed him from the aircraft and questioned him.
He was subsequently prevented from reboarding the flight and could not continue his journey to Kenya.
PALU Seeks Answers Over Addis Ababa Incident
PALU said the circumstances surrounding Kagoro’s removal from the aircraft and subsequent questioning were concerning, particularly because of the existing Kenyan court order.
“The circumstances under which he was removed from the aircraft, questioned and prevented from continuing his journey are deeply concerning,” PALU said.
The organisation said Kagoro’s legal team was seeking urgent clarification from the relevant authorities.
It added that lawyers were taking steps to challenge the actions and ensure that the Kenyan court order was respected.
The statement did not identify the security personnel involved in the incident or specify which authority ordered Kagoro’s removal from the flight.
Kagoro Was Deported From Kenya in February
The latest incident follows Kagoro’s detention and removal from Kenya in February 2026.
Kagoro was detained after arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on February 22 and was subsequently returned to South Africa.
The circumstances of his deportation prompted criticism from several legal and human rights organisations.
The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists said at the time that Kagoro had been denied entry and detained without being given an explanation or written notification setting out the reasons for the decision.
Open Society Foundations, where Kagoro serves as Managing Director of Programmes, also condemned what it described as arbitrary detention and deportation. Contemporary reporting said authorities issued a removal order citing Section 54 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act.
Constitutional Petition Filed
Following the February incident, PALU, the East Africa Law Society (EALS), the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and ICJ-Kenya filed a constitutional petition challenging Kagoro’s detention and deportation.
The petition raises questions concerning due process, freedom of movement and the exercise of immigration and security powers.
The June High Court orders subsequently provided interim protection to Kagoro while the substantive petition remains pending.
A July report by Justice Forum documented PALU’s announcement that the High Court had issued conservatory orders protecting Kagoro against future arbitrary denial of entry into Kenya.
High Court Order Becomes Central to Dispute
PALU says the June order is central to the latest incident because Kagoro was travelling to Kenya pursuant to the court’s directions.
The organisation said the order was intended to safeguard him against future arbitrary denial of entry while the constitutional petition is determined.
The latest incident therefore raises a new question over how the order is to be implemented when Kagoro is travelling to Kenya from outside the country.
PALU said its legal team was pursuing clarification and appropriate legal remedies.
Human Rights Groups Previously Raised Concerns
Kagoro’s February detention and deportation attracted statements from several international and Kenyan legal organisations.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership between the International Federation for Human Rights and the World Organisation Against Torture, said Kagoro had been denied entry, detained and deported after arriving at JKIA.
The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe also wrote to President William Ruto in March expressing concern over Kagoro’s detention and deportation.
However, the circumstances and legal questions surrounding the February removal remain part of the constitutional proceedings.
Authorities Yet to Respond to Latest Claim
PALU’s September 15 statement did not include a response from Kenyan or Ethiopian authorities concerning the Addis Ababa incident.
The organisation said Kagoro’s legal team was seeking clarification from the relevant authorities and would take necessary legal action.
