NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has reiterated its commitment to the one-China policy following the deportation of a Taiwanese scientist who authorities said entered the country using an invalid passport.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei said the incident stemmed from an administrative lapse after Kenya’s electronic travel authorisation (eTA) system issued approval to a traveller holding a Taiwanese passport, which Nairobi does not formally recognise.
“If, by dint of eTA, authorisation has been issued, it represents a system error on this subject,” Sing’Oei said.
“In any event, such a passport holder would not be part of a formal state meeting convened by the Kenyan government.”
The scientist had travelled to Kenya to attend a conference in Mombasa before being detained on arrival and subsequently deported.
The development has brought renewed attention to Kenya’s long-standing diplomatic position on Taiwan, which Nairobi has maintained in line with Beijing’s one-China principle for more than five decades.
It is the first time Kenya has publicly acknowledged restrictions tied to Taiwanese passports, even though Nairobi has for years avoided formal recognition of Taiwan as a separate sovereign entity.
Kenya’s immigration eTA portal still lists Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau among selectable “countries of residence” for applicants.
However, officials and diplomatic sources indicate that while such passports may be processed for tourism or private visits, they are not accepted for official state representation.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has consistently opposed any international recognition of Taiwanese statehood or official representation. Hong Kong and Macau, meanwhile, are classified by Beijing as Special Administrative Regions under its sovereignty.
Following the deportation, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Kenya of yielding to pressure from Beijing. China, on the other hand, praised Nairobi for adhering to the one-China policy.
The episode highlights the delicate balancing act facing African states that maintain close economic ties with China while navigating unofficial relations with Taiwan.
Kenya’s one-China policy dates back to the early 1970s when Nairobi recognised the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China and backed Beijing’s entry into the United Nations, replacing Taiwan (Republic of China) in the UN Security Council seat.
While Taiwan passports were previously occasionally accepted for limited travel purposes, Kenya’s position has hardened in recent years amid deepening diplomatic and economic engagement with Beijing.
In 2016, Kenya controversially deported five Taiwanese nationals to China after they were acquitted in Kenyan courts in a cyber fraud case, a move that triggered protests from Taipei.
Under President William Ruto’s administration, Kenya has reaffirmed the one-China policy multiple times, including during his state visit to Beijing last year.
A joint communiqué issued during that visit stated that Kenya recognises “there is but one China in the world” and that Taiwan is an “inalienable part of China’s territory”, while opposing any form of Taiwan independence.
The statement also underscored Kenya’s support for China’s position on internal affairs, including Xinjiang and Xizang, reflecting Nairobi’s broader non-interference foreign policy alignment.
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China, for its part, has increasingly leveraged diplomatic and economic incentives across Africa, including preferential trade arrangements for countries that recognise the one-China principle.
Kenya is among major beneficiaries, exporting agricultural products such as tea, coffee and avocados to the Chinese market.
The incident underscores the growing geopolitical competition between China and Taiwan for international recognition, particularly in Africa, where only Eswatini currently maintains formal diplomatic ties with Taipei.
Analysts say Kenya’s latest actions reflect its strategic prioritisation of economic relations with Beijing, even as it risks criticism from Taiwan and its allies.
