Exiled lawyer Miguna Miguna has accused the government of frustrating his plans to enter Kenya despite a fresh order by the High Court.
In a tweet, after he was barred by Germany authorities from boarding plane from Berlin to Kenya, Miguna says the government issued the red alert yesterday evening after the order directing the state to facilitate his entry.
The firebrand barrister claims that the Kenyan government threatened to deny Lufthansa Airline landing rights if he boarded it to Nairobi.
“The Office of the President issued a RED ALERT to Lufthansa last evening threatening to deny landing rights to the airline if it carried me to Kenya or any other African country. It was issued AFTER the Court Orders by Justice Korir, ” he tweeted.
The Office of the President issued a RED ALERT to Lufthansa last evening threatening to deny landing rights to the airline if it carried me to Kenya or any other African country. It was issued AFTER the Court Orders by Justice Korir. I'm still at the TXL airport in Berlin. pic.twitter.com/mBPnU13y0I
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) January 7, 2020
He added that despite the government committing, through press statements, that it would facilitate his entry, he’s still at Berlin because the red alert is yet to be cancelled.
Read: Gov’t Will Deal With Miguna’s Red Alert – Oguna
“Lufthansa has stated that it is ready to transport me to Kenya when the READ ALERT has been formally cancelled or withdrawn by the illegitimate Government of Kenya. But as of now, despite lies peddled via social media and press statements, the RED ALERT has not been cancelled, ” he added.
Lufthansa has stated that it is ready to transport me to Kenya when the READ ALERT has been formally cancelled or withdrawn by the illegitimate Government of Kenya. But as of now, despite lies peddled via social media and press statements, the RED ALERT has not been cancelled.
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) January 7, 2020
He stated that he is still weighing if he will reschedule his flight to today evening or tomorrow.
I'm exploring all my options. I'll communicate when and how I will travel to Kenya later today or tomorrow. Meanwhile, I urge all my supporters, freedom fighters and genuine human rights defenders to remain focused and unbowed. Mobilize for a huge homecoming to shame the despots.
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) January 7, 2020
Kahawa Tungu reached out to Lufthansa airline, through its verified Twitter handle, and it confirmed that they received a directive from Kenyan authorities to bar Miguna from boarding.
“The Kenyan authorities require airlines to send passenger data to them in advance before every flight departs to Kenya. In the case of this passenger, they requested that Lufthansa deny boarding. We kindly ask you to refer to the authorities or the passenger himself for further information, ” the response reads.
Earlier, Government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna indicated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would “deal with the read alert”.
Oguna could neither confirm nor deny whether the red alert was sent or if it has been in place since 2018 when Miguna unsuccessfully attempted to return home.
On Monday, Justice Weldon Korir barred the Immigration department and other State agencies involved in the case against interfering with Miguna’s return on Tuesday or any other date.
Read Also: Miguna Claims Germany Authorities Blocked Him From Boarding Flight To Kenya
Moments after the order was issued, the Immigration department released a statement indicating that the lawyer, who has been deported twice and had his passport seized by the state, will be allowed entry into his mother as per court orders dated December 14, 2018.
In the 2018 order, judge Enock Chacha Mwita ruled that Miguna’s deportation was unlawful and in violation of the Constitution.
Justice Mwita further affirmed that the cancellation and the declaration that he was a prohibited immigrant were unconstitutional.
He dismissed the government’s narrative that Miguna is not a Kenyan citizen.
Read Also: Gov’t Reacts To Miguna Miguna’s Homecoming After Court Order
“I find and hold that he did not lose his citizenship upon acquiring a Canadian passport,“ Justice Mwita mentioned concerning his passport.
The High Court also awarded the lawyer Ksh7 million as compensation for the violation of his rights during his deportation to Canada.
The former gubernatorial candidate was first forced out of the country on February 7, 2018, after being in police custody for days following his arrest for presiding over former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s oath as the people’s president on January 30, 2018.
Read Also: Uhuru Hints On State Granting Miguna Unconditional Entry Into Homeland [Video]
He was deported, for the second time, on March 29 after spending more than 72 hours in a tiny room at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after authorities denied him entry into the country.
This is after he refused to produce his Canadian passport at JKIA and insisted that he can’t enter Kenya as a foreigner.
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