Kenya accused of deporting Taiwan delegates ahead of Mombasa oceans conference

Taiwan has accused Kenya of denying entry to two delegates travelling to Mombasa for the Our Ocean Conference, detaining them for more than 20 hours and then deporting them. Taiwan said the pair were headed to the global oceans meeting when Kenyan immigration authorities stopped them at the border. Kenya defended the move by saying its foreign policy recognises only one China.

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Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the delegates' passports and mobile phones were confiscated during detention. It said the action violated human rights and international norms, and described the treatment as unacceptable. Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council said the visas were revoked at the last minute and called the incident a form of obstruction.

The council's minister, Kuan Bi-ling, said political interference did not help ocean governance at a time when wider cooperation was needed. Kenya's foreign affairs principal secretary, Korir Sing'oei, said people presenting Taiwanese passports would not ordinarily be allowed through the country's borders because they lacked proper documentation under Kenya's policy. He also said they would not be part of a formal state meeting convened by the Kenyan government.

The dispute comes as Kenya hosts the annual conference for the first time in Africa, with the event focused on climate change, biodiversity and pollution. The row highlights the continuing diplomatic sensitivity around Taiwan's international participation. China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war, and Beijing continues to regard Taiwan as part of its territory.

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That position has shaped how many governments handle official contact with Taipei, including at multilateral events where Taiwan seeks space to take part in technical discussions on issues such as marine protection and ocean policy. The conference itself has been presented as a chance for African and Commonwealth countries to push forward implementation of ocean commitments. Taiwan's complaint suggests the dispute has moved beyond protocol and into a broader contest over who can attend and speak at international forums.

Kenya's response indicates it is standing by its one-China policy even in the context of a conference dealing with environmental cooperation rather than diplomacy. What remains unclear is whether the delegates were acting in an official or academic capacity, and whether any further diplomatic exchanges will follow. It is also not clear whether the incident will affect Taiwan's participation in the rest of the conference or prompt a formal protest from Taipei.

The immediate issue to watch is whether Kenya or Taiwan releases more detail on the visa revocations and the circumstances of the detention.

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