Miguna’s coming: Former CJ Mutunga to bring deported lawyer back
Mutunga announced that he’ll personally travel to Toronto to accompany the firebrand lawyer and self-declared national resistance movement (NRM)
- Miguna, who hold citizenship for Kenya and Canada, was first deported in February 2018 after taking part in the swearing-in of Raila as the 'People's President' at Uhuru Park on January 30, 2018.
Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga is set to travel to Canada and come back with deported lawyer Miguna Miguna next month.
Mutunga announced that he’ll personally travel to Toronto to accompany the firebrand lawyer and self-declared national resistance movement (NRM)
Whether Miguna will be allowed to enter is another issue.
“I am also seeking out Kenyan journalists who will accompany me on this historic journey,” the former Supreme Court president said on Wednesday.
The plan, well-coordinated to attract international attention, would pile pressure on President Uhuru Kenyatta whose administration has been accused of illegally deporting Miguna, to allow him back.
“I appeal to all Kenyans of goodwill and to our friends in other countries to support this cause because it is just,” Mutunga said in a statement posted on Mutunga Elephant, an online site.
The journey, Mutunga hinted, will be streamed online from Toronto all the way to Nairobi.
The authorities have controversially twice deported the former aide of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, despite several court orders restraining them.
Miguna said he has taken the extraordinary step for two reasons.
“The first is because of the continued, flagrant and reprehensible defiance of the Government of Kenya, its agencies and senior officials, against the numerous valid court orders in favour of Mr Miguna,” he
“The second reason … is to support and defend the independence of our Judiciary, its authority and the people’s confidence in it,” Mutunga, a human rights defender said.
Mutunga accused the government of abusing Miguna’s rights and disregarding several court orders directing it to facilitate the lawyer’s return to the country.
“It is now 1,355 days — three years, eight months and 17 days – since Mr Miguna was illegally and brutally forced into exile by the Government of Kenya.
“None of the court orders referred to above has been obeyed or complied with by the state or its agents and officials,” he said.
Miguna, who hold citizenship for Kenya and Canada, was first deported in February 2018 after taking part in the swearing-in of Raila as the ‘People’s President’ at Uhuru Park on January 30, 2018.
Lawyer Miguna presided over the ceremony after the former Prime Minister and his team rejected the re-election of the President.
Prior to the deportation, Miguna was picked at his Runda home in the middle of the night in the raid that also targeted other opposition politicians who participated in the event.
The lawyer said that his house was severely damaged by explosives. Miguna was detained incommunicado for about six days.
His lawyers obtained orders for his release and production in court.
The government, nevertheless, ignored the court and expatriated him.
Miguna’s attempt to return to the country in March, the same year, were thwarted as the authorities blocked and detained him at JKIA.
