I’m coming back to Kenya, Miguna Miguna declares
What you need to know:
- Dr Miguna is accused of taking part in an illegal assembly to “swear in” Nasa leader Raila Odinga as the “people’s president”.
- He denied ever rejecting his Kenyan roots, and that his citizenship by birth is an irrevocable right.
Deported National Super Alliance activist Miguna Miguna says plans to fly back to Kenya are on course and it is only a matter of time before he sets foot in the country.
He told the Nation in an exclusive interview from Canada that he had already instructed his lawyers to move to court seeking to quash the deportation order by the government and the withdrawal of his passport.
Dr Miguna is accused of taking part in an illegal assembly to “swear in” Nasa leader Raila Odinga as the “people’s president” at Uhuru Park on January 30.
DUAL CITIZENSHIP
The fiery lawyer stated that nothing will stand on his way to return home as he is rightfully a Kenyan and the Constitution is clear on his nationality.
“I know my wife will not be happy to hear that but some of these things you have to decide how you want to live your life and the legacy you want to live behind.
"As we speak, my lawyers filed a petition today in the high court seeking to invalidate the purported decision of withdrawing my citizenship.
"My message to Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto is, ‘Kenya does not belong to you and I’ll be back. Sorry!’” He said.
Dr Miguna holds both Kenyan and Canadian citizenship.
DEATH OR JAIL
The government claims he lost citizenship after acquiring a Canadian passport in 1988 after his application for a Kenyan one was denied on September 1987, soon after he was expelled from the University of Nairobi.
He however denied ever rejecting his Kenyan roots, and that his citizenship by birth is an irrevocable right.
“No one can invalidate the citizenship of a Kenyan born in Kenya. The only citizenship one can lose even in Kenya is that which is acquired through naturalization. In any case, I don’t need anyone’s permission to go back to my country,” he said.
But the self-declared National Resistance Movement (NRM) “general” is apprehensive of what could happen to him when he is back.
According to him, it is either death, a jail term or exile.
DEMOCRACY
These however don’t scare him as he asserts that tribulations at the hands of the Jubilee government have only increased his resolve to fight for electoral justice and democracy and he was ready to face the consequences.
High Court judge Luka Kimaru directed police to immediately release the lawyer.
The judge said Dr Miguna remains free on the Sh50,000 anticipatory bail granted last Friday.
“I am lucky that they messed so badly the court said it cannot charge me any more. The court has stopped them from charging me.
"Even with a million charges they will never get a conviction in a proper court of law because they went against a man they cannot win against,” he said.
DETENTION
The Canadian government unsuccessfully intervened in the Miguna Miguna saga using diplomatic channels.
The Canadian High Commission wrote to the Foreign Affairs ministry expressing concern over the government’s handling of their national protesting that it was not only notified of Dr Miguna’s arrest and subsequent detention in police custody but was also denied information and access to him.
It also demanded assurances from Kenya that none of its citizens would be mistreated while living and working in Kenya.
Dr Miguna however stated that Canada took too long to comment on the matter and they could have issued “a stronger and sterner statement”.
He asked the international community to increase pressure on the government to respect the rule of law and press freedom.
