The mystery surrounding the abduction of Turkish nationals in Kenya is escalating as pressure mounts on the Kenyan government to secure their release. These incidents are linked to Turkey’s global crackdown on supporters of the Gülen movement, which President Erdoğan has labeled a terrorist organization. Several Turkish nationals, believed to be affiliated with the movement, have been forcibly rendered back to Turkey by Turkish intelligence (MIT), despite being under international protection or asylum.

A notable case involved Selahaddin Gülen, the nephew of Fethullah Gülen, who was abducted in Kenya and sent to Turkey in 2021. He faced terrorism-related charges, and in October 2024, a Turkish court upheld his jail sentence. This abduction was part of Turkey’s larger effort to target alleged Gülenists abroad, with over 110 members forcibly returned to Turkey in recent years. Such renditions often occur without proper legal process, drawing condemnation from human rights organizations.

Kenya, meanwhile, is facing mounting scrutiny over its role in these operations, with human rights groups and international bodies urging transparency and legal accountability in handling these cases.