Relationship between Nairobi and Mogadishu took another nosedive on Monday evening after a minister and two legislators from Somalia were denied entry, hours after Somalia parliament passed Petroleum law, which will allow it to start oil exploration.
In February this year, Kenya temporarily recalled her ambassador to Somalia after the Maritime border dispute escalated as the country prepares to face Somalia at International Court of Justice in September.
Voice of America Journalist Harun Maruf, in a tweet on Monday evening, 'confirmed' that the country's Energy minister Osman Liban and two Senators were among those turned away at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
"Deputy energy minister Osman Liban travelled to Kenya to attend the launch of the EU Trust Fund for Africa programme “Collaboration in Cross Border Areas of the Horn of Africa” due to open May 21. Somali ministers, officials vowed not to attend w/o the deputy minister," Maruf tweeted.
"Deputy Minister of Energy and two lawmakers are tonight being held at JKIA after Kenya denied them entry because they’ve Somali passports, per source. According to sources, other ministers, officials were allowed to enter only after producing their western passports," he added.
RTN Somali TV, which broadcasts in the Somali language from Nairobi, also confirmed the new twist, which shows that Kenya's relationship with the Horn of Africa nation may be on the deathbed.
"Deputy Minister of Water Osman Libah, Senators Ilyas and Zamzam confirmed denied access into Kenya. They will tonight spend their night at the JKIA airport Nairobi awaiting to return back to Mogadishu Tuesday morning. Efforts by Somalia Embassy to intercede were unsuccessful," reads RTN Somali TV's tweet.
Last month, Kenya diverted all planes from Mogadishu to Wajir, where they land first for security checks. Somalia protested the move but Nairobi remained mum about the complaints.
In March this year, Somalia President Mohammed Farmajo jetted to Nairobi where he held a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kenya accuses Somalia of plans to auction oil-rich Indian Ocean maritime which is disputed by the two countries.
While Farmajo issued a statement after the meeting, State House remained silent.
“The agenda of the talks included a diplomatic solution and the president has agreed to restore and strengthen ties and co-operation between the two countries based on mutual respect and co-operation in the areas of security, economy, human trafficking and trade,” said Farmaajo as quoted by Daily Nation.