Kenya: Need to Probe ‘Kidnap’ of Polemic Somali Scholar

In the past two years, he was involved in controversial activities like accusing Kenya of ‘territory grab’ in Somalia amid a maritime border case at the International Court of Justice. He dismissed experts with a different viewpoint on the Tigray war in Ethiopia either as foreign spies or Tigray ‘orphans’, to be the darling of Nairobi-based Somali TVs and radios.

Overwhelmed by his new-found media status, he spewed hate and disparaged Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s opponents and castigated Arab nations and Western intelligence agencies using his Twitter handle and other platforms.

‘Misused at a fee’

Many believe the scholar was misused (at a fee) by two leading Nairobi-based Somali lawyers, self-appointed propagandists for Mogadishu, bankrolling its keyboard ‘warriors’ paid from the accounts of intelligence chief Fahad Yassin Haji Dahir.

He was also accused of plagiarising the Horn of Africa Institute for Security Studies name from a think tank group of that name, who have since sought protection of their brand by the authorities.

The academic is also mentioned in controversial multi-million-shilling fraudulent land sale, a dispute allegedly mediated by a group of Eastleigh businessmen after he received threats on his life.

Dr Abdisamad has too many enemies. His “abduction” need be condemned and probed but Nairobi, which has been too patient with him and his cohorts, should weigh between allowing him and his group to roam freely in Kenya or deport them.

Mr Ngoma is a scholar in international relations. [email protected]