Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji has surrendered his Kenyan citizenship documents, becoming the first member of the country’s federal cabinet to publicly comply with a directive requiring government officials holding Kenyan passports to renounce them or leave office.
Haji handed over his Kenyan passport, birth certificate and national identification card to Kenya’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Elias Bar Shil, during a ceremony held in Mogadishu on Monday, August 3.
The move follows a directive issued by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ordering cabinet members with Kenyan passports to give them up or resign from government.
The decision has drawn fresh attention to Somali officials who hold Kenyan citizenship or travel documents, while also raising questions about the process through which some of those documents were acquired.
Speaking during the ceremony, Haji described the handover as a voluntary administrative decision and maintained that his Kenyan passport had been obtained lawfully.
“This step is entirely administrative and was not prompted by any dispute or request from any authority,” he said. “Returning the passport reflects my dedication to maintaining absolute clarity in my public role and my steadfast loyalty to Somalia.”
Haji said surrendering the documents was meant to remove any doubt about his public responsibilities while allowing him to continue serving in Somalia’s federal government. He also said the move reflected his commitment to the country's leadership and institutions.
The Deputy Prime Minister thanked Kenya for the support and hospitality it has extended to Somalis over the years, saying the relationship between the two neighbouring countries remains important.
“Their generosity and friendship will always be remembered with respect and gratitude,” he added.
He reaffirmed his commitment to Somalia while expressing continued respect for Kenya and its institutions. He also said the decision would help strengthen relations between the two countries.
The handover comes after increased scrutiny by Kenyan authorities over Kenyan passports held by some Somali government officials. Haji was recently deported from Kenya after questions emerged regarding his Kenyan passport.
Kenyan Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has maintained that Kenyan passports are only issued to people who meet the legal requirements for citizenship.
The issue has also featured in discussions between Kenya and Somalia as both governments seek to address concerns surrounding immigration, travel documentation and the movement of people across their shared border.
Recently, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi held talks with Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali on the sidelines of the 49th African Union Executive Council meeting in Addis Ababa.
During the meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on immigration management, consular affairs and cross-border movement as part of efforts to improve coordination between the neighbouring countries.
President Mohamud’s directive has now placed renewed focus on members of his administration who hold Kenyan citizenship or Kenyan travel documents.
Haji’s decision marks the first public compliance by a federal cabinet member since the order was issued. However, the Somali government has not disclosed how many cabinet members are affected by the directive or when the remaining officials are expected to comply.
The ceremony also comes at a time when Kenya and Somalia are working to deepen cooperation on immigration matters, consular services and movement across their common border. The two countries continue to share close social and economic ties, with many Somalis living, working and doing business in Kenya.