Nairobi — Open Society Foundations has condemned the detention and denial of entry of its Managing Director of Programmes, Brian Kagoro, by Kenyan authorities, saying no formal charges or written reasons were provided.

Kagoro was held for more than 10 hours upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, questioned by national intelligence officers, and later returned to Johannesburg. The organisation said he has never been charged with or convicted of any criminal offence.

According to Open Society, the removal order cited Section 54 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011, which relates to documentation-related offences.

The foundation also dismissed as baseless allegations circulating in sections of the media linking Kagoro to financing or coordinating political unrest, stating that no evidence has been presented to support the claims.

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Describing him as a respected constitutional lawyer and Pan-Africanist, the organisation said Kagoro has worked extensively on governance, regional integration, global justice and rule of law issues across Africa, and has previously resided in Kenya for extended periods.

Open Society maintained that it does not fund or organise political protests, noting that its work in Kenya focuses on lawful civic engagement and accountable governance. It added that since 2005, it has partnered with Kenyan institutions, including government actors, on areas such as economic policy, climate and democratic governance.

The organisation said it is seeking formal clarification through the appropriate channels, emphasising the importance of transparency and due process in democratic societies.