After numerous failed attempts at removing the notorious hate cleric Abdullah al-Faisal the Kenyan government is finally counting the cost to its coffers and international reputation.

It has been revealed that Kenya paid half a million dollars to transport the Jamaican Muslim preacher home by private jet, three weeks after initial attempts were grounded. Two Kenyan immigration officials have also been suspended for allowing Faisal to enter the country in the first place with authorities questioning how staff could allow a Jamaican man to cross a land border with Tanzania without arousing suspicion.

Faisal was effectively stranded in Nairobi after moves to deport him to several neighbouring African countries were blocked with the cleric being refused a transit visa. During his time awaiting deportation and while Kenyan officials negotiated for his return Nairobi became the scene of violent clashed between Muslim groups and local police at a number of rallies in support of Faisal.

The Kenyan government defended their actions, saying that Faisal represented a violent threat and that they were obliged to remove such a threat from the state. Not doing so would present a constant threat to the public, particularly those involved with commercial airlines.

Faisal’s deportation was eventually alleged to be coordinated by a South African security firm. He had previously spent four years in a British jail for inciting racial hatred and violence prior to his release in 2007.

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