British journalist declared a 'subversive' faces deportation from Kenya

http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/mar/25/human-rights-kenya

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Lucy Hannan, a British journalist who has lived for more than 20 years in Kenya, has spent months fighting off a deportation order after the government declared her to be an illegal immigrant.

In her latest court appearance, a Nairobi high court judge extended an order stopping the government from deporting her and told her to file her response to claims that she is engaging in subversive activities.

Hannan has previously written for various UK newspapers, including The Guardian, and worked for BBC news and Channel 4 news. She now runs InformAction, a not-for-profit outfit that screens human rights films in rural areas and holds community discussions on justice. A leading human rights activist, Maina Kiai, is one of its directors.

Over the last couple of years she has concentrated on making documentary films for InformAction. These are aimed, she has explained, at getting "to the core of issues that tend to be obscured by special interests, and a corrupt and complacent media... we record people's stories, raise questions, and challenge people to think for themselves."

Hannan was issued with a work permit in 2007, which was renewed regularly until last year, when her application was rejected. Last October, she argued in court that the permit was being unreasonably withheld.

Immigration officials presented the court with a letter signed by Kenya's interior secretary, Joseph ole Lenku, saying she has been declared a "prohibited immigrant".

An official told the court: "Confidential reports indicate that the applicant has been engaged in subversive activities against the Kenyan government and therefore her presence in Kenya is contrary to national interest."

Sources: Africa.com/The Star, Nairobi/Diaspora Messenger/Berkley Centre