Kenya Caught in the Crossfire of US-South Africa Diplomatic Dispute

South Africa has deported seven Kenyan nationals linked to a United States programme, prompting a sharp exchange between Washington and Pretoria while Nairobi remains silent.

The confrontation intensified after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused South African authorities of harassing American officials during a raid on a refugee centre. He said embassy staff were briefly detained and sensitive passport data was exposed, calling the incident “an unacceptable form of harassment” that endangered US personnel. 

Rubio warned of “severe consequences” unless those responsible were held accountable, describing the episode as an attempt to intimidate US officials engaged in legitimate diplomatic work. South Africa rejected the allegations. 

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed on 18 December that the seven Kenyans were deported after being found working on tourist visas. Officials said the expulsions complied fully with immigration law and emphasised that sovereignty and the rule of law were non-negotiable. 

The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation denied any state role in the alleged data breach, stressing that South Africa operates under strict diplomatic and security protocols. It added that communication channels with Washington remain open to clarify the matter and maintain relations based on “mutual respect and factual dialogue.”

The dispute comes against a backdrop of strained ties between President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa. Trump has repeatedly accused South Africa of persecuting its white minority, at one point presenting satellite images he claimed showed evidence of “white genocide.” 

The images were later traced to conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the narrative has continued. In response, Washington launched a programme to assist Afrikaners seeking relocation to the US, with Kenyan nationals enlisted to support screening and processing.

Kenya’s position remains uncertain. Neither President William Ruto nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commented on the deportations, leaving questions about the identity of the expelled citizens. South Africa views the matter as routine enforcement of immigration law, while the United States frames it as a breach of diplomatic norms. Kenya, meanwhile, is left managing the consequences of a dispute in which its nationals have become unintended participants.