The Interior Ministry and the Directorate of Immigration and Registration of Persons want the passports of at least 10 top National Super Alliance (NASA) leaders suspended, according to a report by the Nation.
Letters asking the leaders to surrender their passoprts are said to have been signed on Friday and all that remains is for them to be dispatched.
Self-declared National Resistance Movement (NRM) General Miguna Miguna, billionaire businessman Jimmy Wanjigi and Siaya Senator James Orengo are allegedly among those whose passports the governments wants handed over.
It will be the latest action taken by the Government against NASA in the crackdown that followed the swearing in of Raila Odinga as the 'People's President' on January 30 at Uhuru Park.
It remains unclear whether diplomatic passports will be affected by the Government's latest action, and the suspension of the passports remains open to legal challenges.
[caption caption="Senator Orengo speaks at Uhuru Park with Jimmy Wanjigi next to him "]
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Director of Immigration Gordon Kihalangwa, who would be required to sign the letters, however, denied knowledge of the plan.
“I am not aware of such action, thanks,” he is quoted by Nation.
The Retired Major-General is also the Principal Secretary nominee for Border Control and Registration of Persons.
Article 12(1b) of the Constitution guarantees the right of every Kenyan to hold a passport and “may be denied, suspended or confiscated only in accordance with an Act of Parliament that satisfies the criteria mentioned in Article 24 (of the Constitution)”.
This would most likely form the basis of any legal challenge against the suspension of the passports.
[caption caption="Miguna Miguna with TJ Kajwang at Uhuru Park"]
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