NAIROBI (Halbeeg News) – Kenyan authorities have today suspended five Somali money transfer companies amid a diplomatic escalating dispute between Somalia and Kenya.
According to reliable sources in Nairobi, Kenyan security agencies raiding the companies based in Somali dominated neighborhood, Eastleigh.
It is not clear the reason behind the raid and the inspections launched by Kenya government hours after a delegation from Somalia was denied entry visas to Kenya.
The forces have reportedly five companies, forcing the companies to suspend the services in the country.
The police reportedly took the computers and other electronics belonging to Amana money transfer company while another remittance company by the name Amal locked by the police padlock.
There is no official communication from the Kenyan authorities related to the move.
Experts say the move may have linked with the growing diplomatic row.
Kenyan government shutdown Somali money transfer companies operating in Nairobi back in 2015, authorities said terror finance was getting its way through the Hawala system, a claim that was refuted by Somali business community.
The analyst believes Nairobi is trying to bully Mogadishu in order to force the recuperating state to agree on out of court settlement on the maritime case.
On Monday, three senior Somali government officials, Deputy Minister for Energy and two Upper House lawmakers were denied entry at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport despite holding a diplomatic passport.
They returned back to Mogadishu on Tuesday morning after spending the night at the JKIA airport.
The above events unfold just a day after Somali parliament unanimously approved the petroleum and the natural resource bill into law.
Somalia is planning to give oil explorations contract in December this year.
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