On Monday, August 3, 2026, Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji took a significant step by surrendering his Kenyan citizenship documents. This action makes him the first member of the federal cabinet to align with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s directive, which requires officials holding Kenyan passports to renounce them or resign from their government roles.
During an official ceremony in Mogadishu, Haji presented his Kenyan passport, birth certificate, and national identification card to Kenya’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Elias Bar Shil. This handover follows President Mohamud’s recent call for cabinet members to relinquish their Kenyan passports, sparking renewed interest in the status of Somali officials holding such citizenship documents.
In explaining his decision, Haji characterized the handover as a voluntary administrative action, affirming that his Kenyan passport was genuine and lawfully acquired. He stated, “This step is entirely administrative and was not prompted by any dispute or request from any authority. Returning the passport reflects my dedication to maintaining absolute clarity in my public role and my steadfast loyalty to Somalia.” He also expressed gratitude for Kenya’s longstanding support, emphasizing that their generosity will always be remembered with respect.
Haji reinforced his commitment to Somalia while continuing to honor Kenya and its institutions. His decision aims to enhance clarity around his public responsibilities and to support the strengthening of relations between the two neighboring countries.
The handover coincides with heightened scrutiny from Kenyan authorities regarding the passports held by certain Somali government officials. Recently, Haji faced deportation from Kenya amid questions concerning his Kenyan passport. Kenyan Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has emphasized that Kenyan passports are issued only to citizens who meet specific legal requirements.
This matter has been a focal point in discussions between officials from both nations, as Nairobi and Mogadishu work to address immigration and travel documentation concerns. Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi recently engaged in talks with Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali during the 49th African Union Executive Council meeting in Addis Ababa. Both parties agreed to bolster cooperation on immigration management, consular affairs, and cross-border movement.
President Mohamud’s directive has spotlighted the issue of dual documentation among members of his administration. Haji’s voluntary surrender of his documents marks the first public compliance by a federal cabinet member since the directive’s issuance. Although the Somali government has not disclosed the number of cabinet members affected by this directive or provided a timeline for compliance, Haji’s action formally concludes his possession of the Kenyan documents while allowing him to continue his service in Somalia’s federal government.
This moment also aligns with the ongoing efforts of Kenya and Somalia to foster closer cooperation on immigration, consular services, and movement across their shared border, reflecting the strong social and economic ties between the two nations, with many Somalis living, working, and conducting business in Kenya.
