British woman detained in Kilifi since March for lack of flights

A British woman is being detained at Mtwapa Police Station awaiting her repatriation following a court order.

The Immigration Department is unable to send Joanne Goodman back to the UK following the grounding of flights after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

Her lawyer, Morris Mkhan yesterday moved to the High Court seeking her release on bond.

Mkhan filed her papers before Justice Peter Otieno to have the Briton's case reviewed, noting her stay at the police station could expose her to Covid-19.

Justice Otieno will hear the application tomorrow.

“The above-named was charged in the Shanzu court on March 10, 2020, and convicted of an offence of being in Kenya illegally,” Mkhan said.

Immigration department

He said the court ordered that she be repatriated and directed the Immigration Department to facilitate the process.

However, as the immigration officials were organising how she could be repatriated, all flights into and out of Kenya were suspended.

Mkhan wants the High Court to review Joanne’s status and order for her release so that she can go and stay with her friends or any other person until coronavirus spread is stemmed.

State lawyer Bosibori Ogega opposed the application, insisting Joanne is already a convict. “The convict should remain in police custody as had been ordered by the court," Ogega said, noting the State was already taking care of her.

Joanne had asked Shanzu court that she be repatriated to the UK instead of being sentenced to serve a jail term in Kenya. She admitted that her visa had expired and she continued being in Kenya until her arrest during a swoop in Mtwapa.