Ethiopian businessman Abdulahi Said Salad, who was declared a prohibited immigrant by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has gone back to court seeking to reverse the decision.
CS Matiang’i said Mr Salad’s presence in Kenya was against national interest and ordered the Ethiopian put in custody as arrangements for his removal were being made. He was also placed on immigration watch-list.
The Ethiopian claims he was not taken through due process, as he was only informed of this when he visited the Immigration department to regularise his immigration status.
Mr Salad said he has lived in Kenya for 27 years and has two wives, all of whom live and own businesses in Kenya. His woes, he claimed, were hatched by business rivals who plotted to take over his business.
Appearing before Justice John Mativo, the court allowed the case to proceed without the respondents but faulted Mr Salad for not joining the Attorney General (AG).
Stating that the court could not completely ignore the state’s legitimate interest in the security of its borders and the integrity of its immigration systems by disregarding Matiangi’s powers. Therefore, the AG, who is the principal legal adviser to the government is normally the one to represent the national government in court or in any other legal proceedings to which the national government is a party to, other than criminal proceedings.
The judge said it was upon Mr Salad to prove alleged abuse or that the minister acted illegally and there was nothing to show that he ever asked to be given reasons for his being declared a prohibited immigrant.