JAKARTA, Indonesia — Kenyan content creators Naomi Kuria and travel TikToker Diana Daisy Gau have shared details about their brief detention at an Indonesian airport shortly after arriving for a vacation.
In a video posted on her TikTok page on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Naomi clarified that the incident was part of standard immigration procedures, particularly for first-time visitors to the country.
“When you see us here, just know that we are free. Hi, we are finally free. We were detained at the Indonesian immigration office, but this is actually very normal if you are travelling to a country for the first time,” Naomi said.
She explained that immigration officers conducted routine checks, verifying travel documents and confirming that the travellers had sufficient funds to cover their stay.
“Diana was the one who was supposed to present her passport first for inspection. They usually want to confirm if you have enough money to sustain your stay, and that is the main reason,” Naomi added.
Diana recounted that Naomi was taken in first for questioning, where officials inquired about their itinerary, financial capacity, and planned activities during their visit. She noted that the intensity of the questioning can vary depending on the officer handling the case.
“So I was taken into a room and asked many questions, including how much money we had, our itinerary, and what we were planning to do there. Those kinds of questions are very normal, and I experienced the same when I first came to Indonesia. It also depends on the immigration officer you meet, as some are more understanding than others. For Naomi, it was a bit more intense,” Diana said.
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The two creators explained that showing proof of financial stability ultimately secured their release. Authorities were particularly keen to ensure that visitors could afford to stay in Jakarta, the capital, where the cost of living is high.
“What actually helped us and led to our release was our financial status. They usually ask to see your bank account, and the reason they focus on money is because we were entering the capital city where life is quite expensive. Once they saw our bank balance, they allowed us to proceed, and that was the situation,” Diana explained.
Both Naomi and Diana emphasized that the experience, though initially alarming, falls within standard immigration procedures for first-time visitors. They urged other travellers to remain calm and comply with officers’ requests.
