A South Sudanese whistleblower and Kenyan citizen, Athorbey Al-Gaddhaffy-Dit, has been abducted in Nairobi, raising fears that he may be forcibly returned to South Sudan, where he could face severe repercussions for exposing alleged corruption.
His wife and Amnesty International confirmed the incident on Wednesday, saying the 51-year-old was seized by armed men shortly after leaving a casino in the Kenyan capital.
According to a police statement provided by his wife, masked men driving a white vehicle intercepted him in the early hours of the morning.
“They blocked him, seized him, and bundled him into the vehicle,” the statement read.
Al-Gaddhaffy-Dit, who also holds Kenyan citizenship, had previously warned that his life was in danger due to his public allegations of corruption involving South Sudan’s ruling elite.
Amnesty International expressed grave concern over the incident, warning that he may already be in detention at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and could be deported to South Sudan.
“We believe that he may be detained at Jomo Kenyatta Airport and soon be deported to South Sudan. This constitutes a serious and urgent threat to his life, safety, and fundamental rights,” the organisation said.
South Sudan remains one of the world’s poorest and most corruption-affected countries, with a United Nations report last year accusing senior officials of misappropriating billions of dollars in oil revenues while citizens continue to face severe shortages of basic services.
Human rights activists, including Kenyan presidential candidate Boniface Mwangi, have raised alarm over the abduction, warning that the whistleblower could be in danger if returned.
“He is likely to be murdered for exposing corruption in South Sudan,” Mwangi wrote on social media platform X.
The incident has renewed concerns over Kenya’s role as a regional safe haven for dissidents, with rights groups alleging increasing cases of cross-border abductions.
Amnesty International noted previous incidents, including the kidnapping of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye in Nairobi in 2024, as well as the forced return of Turkish refugees and the abduction of Tanzanian activists on Kenyan soil.
The organisation called on Kenyan authorities to urgently clarify Al-Gaddhaffy-Dit’s whereabouts and ensure his protection in line with domestic and international human rights obligations.
“Kenyan authorities must demonstrate, without delay, their commitment to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding human rights,” Amnesty said.
