United States freelance journalist Margot Kiser has sued the Kenyan government over her alleged deportation from the country and subsequent classification as a prohibited immigrant, raising fresh questions about press freedom, immigration powers and the protection of journalists working in Kenya.
Kiser, who was investigating the Shakahola killings linked to controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie, has taken legal action against the Ministry of Interior and the Directorate of Immigration over what she describes as violations of her constitutional rights.
The International Press Association of East Africa (IPAEA) has also called on the government to explain the circumstances surrounding her removal from Kenya and ensure that journalists can carry out their work without intimidation.
The case comes amid renewed international attention on the Shakahola tragedy, following a major court development involving Mackenzie and his co-accused.
U.S. Journalist Alleges She Was Forcibly Removed From Her Home
According to a statement cited by Kenyans.co.ke, Kiser told the International Press Association of East Africa that she was forcibly removed from her home in Mombasa on October 10, 2025.
She alleged that officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), accompanied by armed police officers, carried out the operation before confiscating her phones, laptops and other electronic devices.
The journalist further claimed that she was taken to Nairobi and placed on an Emirates flight bound for New York.
However, Kiser said she disembarked in Dubai, where she remained rather than continuing her journey to the United States.
“They seized my phones, laptops and other devices, denied me access to a lawyer or even my son, flew me to Nairobi and put me on an Emirates flight bound for New York. I got off in Dubai and stayed there,” Kiser said, according to the association’s statement.
The allegations have raised questions about the circumstances of her removal, including whether she was afforded an opportunity to challenge the decision and obtain legal assistance.
The claims remain allegations presented by the journalist and the association, and the government’s response and relevant court records are important in establishing the full circumstances of the case.
Shakahola Investigation at the Centre of the Dispute
Kiser was reportedly investigating the Shakahola killings, a case involving deaths linked to a religious movement associated with Paul Mackenzie.
The tragedy drew national and international attention after authorities uncovered mass graves in the Shakahola area of Kilifi County, prompting investigations into allegations of extreme fasting and the deaths of followers.
According to the association, Kiser had also raised concerns with the Department of Children’s Services over allegations that children were being subjected to fasting, including children connected to Mackenzie.
Her reporting on the case is now part of the wider context surrounding the dispute over her deportation.
However, the available allegations do not independently establish that her journalistic work was the reason for the government’s decision to remove her from Kenya.
The central legal question will include whether the authorities acted within the law and whether the decision infringed any rights protected under the Constitution.
Government Cited National Security Concerns
According to the account provided by Kiser and reported by the association, the Kenyan government argued that her activities posed a threat to the country’s moral fabric and national security.
Kiser has questioned the basis of those claims, arguing that the government has not provided evidence identifying the activities that allegedly justified her removal.
The dispute raises questions about the balance between immigration enforcement and the constitutional protections available to individuals, including foreign journalists working in the country.
Kenya’s Constitution protects freedom of expression and media freedom, although these protections operate alongside applicable laws and lawful restrictions.
Whether the government followed the required legal procedures in Kiser’s case will depend on the evidence, the applicable immigration provisions and the arguments presented before the court.
The filing of a lawsuit does not, by itself, establish that the deportation was unlawful or that the government’s stated concerns were unfounded.
Journalist Denied Entry Despite Residency Permit
The dispute reportedly continued after Kiser left Kenya.
According to the association, she subsequently applied for and received a Class K residency permit.
She attempted to return to Kenya on March 8, 2026, but was denied entry and later learned that she had been designated a prohibited immigrant.
The development has raised questions about the relationship between the permit she says she received and the immigration decision preventing her from entering the country.
Kiser is challenging the actions taken against her, arguing that her removal and subsequent denial of entry violated her constitutional rights.
The legal proceedings could examine the circumstances surrounding the original deportation, the basis for her classification as a prohibited immigrant and the effect of the residency permit on her immigration status.
The precise legal grounds for the decisions and the government’s formal response will be important in determining the dispute.
Press Freedom Groups Demand Answers
The International Press Association of East Africa has expressed concern over the allegations and called on the Kenyan government to explain why Kiser was removed from the country.
The association has also urged authorities to guarantee that journalists can work safely and freely while carrying out investigations and reporting on matters of public interest.
The case highlights concerns about the treatment of reporters investigating sensitive subjects, particularly where their work involves allegations of wrongdoing, vulnerable individuals or controversial religious organisations.
Investigative journalism can help document events, bring information to the public and support accountability. At the same time, authorities may enforce immigration and national security laws, provided their actions comply with the applicable legal framework.
The proceedings are therefore likely to attract attention from media organisations and press freedom advocates monitoring the relationship between national security decisions and journalists’ ability to work independently.
Latest Court Development in the Shakahola Case
The lawsuit comes amid a significant development in the criminal proceedings connected to the Shakahola tragedy.
According to the report cited in the original account, a Mombasa court found Paul Mackenzie and his co-accused guilty in a case involving 191 murder charges. Sentencing was scheduled for November 6, 2026.
The development has renewed attention on the wider investigation into the deaths and the circumstances surrounding the religious movement associated with Mackenzie.
Kiser’s reported investigative work on the case has consequently returned to the spotlight as her legal challenge against the government proceeds.
However, the criminal proceedings against Mackenzie and his co-accused are separate from Kiser’s immigration dispute. The outcome of one case does not, by itself, determine the legal questions in the other.
What Happens Next in Kiser’s Lawsuit?
The next stage will depend on the court proceedings and the responses filed by the government agencies named in the case.
The court may be asked to consider whether the authorities complied with immigration law, whether Kiser’s constitutional rights were respected and whether the decisions affecting her entry into Kenya were legally justified.
The confiscation of her electronic devices and her allegations that she was denied access to a lawyer may also attract scrutiny if they form part of the legal claims and supporting evidence.
Any final determination will depend on the court record, the applicable law and evidence presented by the parties.
Until the court reaches a decision, the allegations against the authorities should not be treated as established findings of unlawful conduct.
Conclusion
The lawsuit filed by U.S. journalist Margot Kiser against the Kenyan government has placed renewed focus on immigration enforcement, constitutional rights and press freedom.
Kiser alleges that she was forcibly removed from Kenya while investigating the Shakahola killings and later denied entry despite receiving a residency permit. The International Press Association of East Africa has called for an explanation and stronger assurances that journalists can work freely and safely.
The case now turns on the legal basis for the government’s actions and whether the procedures followed complied with Kenyan law.
U.S. Journalist Margot Kiser Sues Kenyan Government Over Deportation
U.S. journalist Margot Kiser has sued Kenya’s Interior Ministry and Immigration Directorate over her alleged deportation and subsequent denial of entry.
Margot Kiser sues Kenyan government
U.S. journalist deported from Kenya, Margot Kiser Shakahola investigation, Kenya press freedom, Shakahola killings, prohibited immigrant Kenya, Kenyan immigration law, Paul Mackenzie case.
Kenya News | Courts | Press Freedom
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