Zimbabwe's Brian Kagoro expelled from Kenya for fueling political unrest

Kenyan authorities have expelled Zimbabwean constitutional lawyer and civic activist Brian Bright Kagoro, accusing him of involvement in a foreign-backed scheme to foment political unrest through organised protests.

Kagoro, who serves as Managing Director of Programmes at Open Society Foundations (OSF) Africa, was declared persona non grata and deported late Sunday after being detained and questioned for several hours by immigration and security officials. He was escorted out of the country through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, according to officials.

Security agencies said the decision followed a months-long investigation into what they allege was a coordinated effort to mobilise political dissent in Kenya by leveraging economic pressures and youth activism.

Capital FM, citing unnamed officials, reported that Kagoro made several trips to Nairobi in 2025 and allegedly undertook to help raise approximately US$1.2 million to support activist networks. Authorities claim the funds were intended to reignite youth-led protests that swept across Kenya in 2024, prompting the government to withdraw proposed tax increases after weeks of nationwide demonstrations largely organised through social media platforms.

Organisers of the 2024 protests have consistently denied receiving foreign funding, maintaining that the movement was grassroots-driven.

A senior security official said intelligence gathered over six months pointed to what authorities believe was a deliberate strategy to manufacture unrest. "We have evidence, gathered painstakingly over the last six months, that indicates a calculated attempt to engineer civil disorder," the official said.

The Kenyan government has warned that foreign nationals suspected of interfering in the country's internal political processes will face denial of entry, enhanced monitoring, or expulsion.

During questioning, Kagoro reportedly rejected the allegations, stating that his visit to Kenya was for personal and professional reasons. He is said to have told investigators that he travelled to attend a family event and to participate in a conference focused on critical minerals and artificial intelligence. While acknowledging longstanding relationships with Kenyan civil society organisations, he denied coordinating protests or financing political activity.

Authorities further alleged that some of his public engagements, including appearances at a judiciary accountability forum and a technology innovation event, were used to broaden activist networks. Investigators also pointed to his association with OSF, which has faced criticism from some Kenyan political leaders who accuse foreign donors of meddling in domestic politics.

Kagoro, a co-founder of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, has spent nearly two decades working in Nairobi and is widely regarded by supporters as a prominent figure in regional governance, democracy, and civic advocacy circles.

Security officials additionally claimed he participated in encrypted messaging platforms and is being examined for possible links to election-related unrest in Tanzania, although no public evidence has been presented to substantiate those claims.