Why lawyer and activist Brian Kagoro did not fly to Nairobi despite court order

Zimbabwean lawyer and activist Brian Bright Tamuka Kagoro was prevented from boarding his flight to Nairobi on September 15, 2026, despite a court order directing his entry into the country. Kagoro, who was deported from Kenya in February 2026 for allegedly orchestrating a foreign-funded operation to destabilize the government, was removed from his Addis Ababa flight by Kenyan security personnel.

A Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU) spokesperson expressed deep concern over the removal, citing the existing court order and the circumstances surrounding Kagoro's questioning and denial of boarding. Kagoro's legal team sought clarification from authorities and planned legal actions to challenge the actions and enforce the court order.

Despite the obstacles, civil society organizations and human rights defenders had intended to receive Kagoro at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, but the gathering was ultimately cancelled. Kagoro, a Pan-Africanist and Africa Director of the Open Society Foundations, had been involved in governance, human rights, and rule of law advocacy across Africa for decades.

The deportation marked the end of over two decades of his engagement with Kenya's civil society ecosystem and raised questions about foreign activists' engagement in political mobilization within the country.