Envoy demands release of five Taiwanese arrested in Nairobi

The Taiwan Ambassador to Kenya, John Chen, is now piling pressure on police to release five Taiwanese nationals being held at Gigiri Police Station, Nairobi and they be repatriated back to their country.

Chen also wants their passports released after the court on Friday acquitted 35 Chinese nationals and the five Taiwanese who were arrested two years ago on suspicion of involvement in wire fraud.

The Taiwan envoy accuses police of holding the foreigners for more than 24 hours after the release order, claiming that Kenya is facing political pressure to send them to China, a move he strongly opposes.

Chen alleges the Gigiri OCPD, Vitalis Otieno, has refused to cooperate to ensure their release and threatens Taiwan will nullify their passports for them to use their travel documents back to Taiwan.

The police boss could, however, not be reached for comment.

On Friday, Senior Principal Magistrate Joyce Gondani acquitted the 40 foreigners due to insufficient evidence in the charges of illegally running a telecommunication system, conspiracy to commit felony and engaging in organized crime.