The International Press Association of East Africa (IPAEA) has raised concern over the reported deportation of American journalist and association member Margot Kiser from Kenya, calling on the government to explain the circumstances surrounding her removal.
In a statement, the association said Kiser was forcibly removed from her apartment in Mombasa on October 10, 2025, by a group of Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers and police officers armed with rifles.
IPAEA said her phones, laptops and other electronic devices were seized during the operation. The journalist was allegedly denied access to a lawyer and her son before being flown to Nairobi and placed on an Emirates flight bound for New York. She reportedly disembarked in Dubai, where she remained.
Kiser had been investigating the Shakahola massacre and had reportedly raised concerns with Children’s Services over the alleged fasting of children belonging to controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie.
According to the statement, Kiser was later granted a Class K residency permit but was denied entry into Kenya on March 8, 2026, and declared a prohibited immigrant.
Kenyan authorities reportedly cited concerns that her activities threatened the country’s moral fabric and national security. However, the association said no evidence had been provided to support the allegations.
Kiser has since filed a case against the Ministry of Interior and the Directorate of Immigration, challenging the actions taken against her and alleging violations of her constitutional rights.
The journalist has also disputed a Daily Nation report claiming she remained in Kenya for six months after being declared a prohibited immigrant. She maintains that she stayed outside the country until March 2026.
IPAEA said the reported treatment of Kiser raised serious concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists working in Kenya.
The association called on the government to provide a clear explanation for the actions taken against her and to address the alleged violations of her rights, insisting that journalists must be able to carry out their work without intimidation or arbitrary interference.
