The Kenyan government has said it will deport Congolese singer Koffi Olomide after he was arrested on the night of Friday, July 22, while leaving Citizen TV studios where he had an interview.
In a statement released by Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, Cisily Kariuki, Koffi Olomide will be deported as soon as possible and his Kenyan visa permanently revoked.
Kariuki further commended the Kenya public for the condemnation they belted on the controversial singer, and said that the Kenyan government will not condone any form of violence on women and girls.
“We further recommend that his Kenya visa be permanently revoked under section 35(4) of the Kenyan Citizenship and Immigration Act on account of his actions which are contrary to our laws and his subsequent utterances that portray Kenya in bad light,” the statement read in part.
Olomide cost a stir upon his arrival in Kenya when he bounced on and kicked one of his female dancers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the full glare of cameras and police officers.
The incident quickly went viral with many Kenyans taking to social media to condemn his actions and call for his arrest.
On Twitter, he trended for the better part of the day, with calls being made to boycott his shows scheduled for Saturday, July 23, in Nairobi.
It is believed that the dancer had an altercation with Cindy, Koffi’s lover who is also the manager of the band, and the temperamental singer couldn’t hold it when they landed at the JKIA.
Appearing on Citizen TV later on, Koffi accused Kenyans of blowing the incident out of proportion and dismissed claims that he assaulted the dancer.
He even went ahead to parade his dancers on the show and kissed the victim of his brutal kick.
“I watched with dismay the video that you also saw, which many say it shows me kicking my dancer. However, this is not true. The truth is, some lady arrived there at the airport in front of everyone, in front of the press even and was threatening my dancers, I don’t know why, but I had to defend my dancers. The respect I have for women, people should not think what they are thinking now, and soiling my name. I’m sorry for reacting like that, but I just had to defend my dancers,” Koffi said.
No sooner had he left the show than security officers bounced on him and arrested him.
He is likely to be deported back to Congo.
Source: Tuko.co.ke
