Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna on Wednesday went into a war of words with deported lawyer Miguna Miguna.
Sifuna and Miguna drew their furious exchange from the ODM party legal team's plan to administer a presidential oath to their party leader Raila Odinga after the controversial 2017 General Election.
While Miguna accused Mr Sifuna of cowardice and inability to administer the symbolic presidential oath, Sifuna rebuffed the lawyer's claims claiming he had hijacked the plans made by the party's lawyers.
[caption caption="ODM lawyers with Miguna Miguna during Mr Odinga's symbolic swearing-in ceremony (PHOTO/COURTESY)"]
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In his own defense, Sifuna stated that it was "because only one of us could do it. In my profession, we also defer to seniority. I could have done it but there were way more senior Lawyers like Otiende Amollo, James Orengo, Peter Kaluma and TJ Kajwang'. In fact, TJ Kajwang' had been designated to officiate and it's why he was in full robes."
Miguna, who's still appealing to be allowed back home, told off Sifuna stating that ODM counsels were only spectators at the function.
He claims that TJ Kajwang had witnessed him administer the first oath at a private place and the Uhuru Park oath landed him the deportation despite having a series of successful court interjections.
"Stop lying Sifuna. Kajwang' was just a spectator, both on Sunday when I swore Raila Odinga in at a private function, and on Tuesday, January 30th. It is disgraceful to for an advocate of your standing to peddle such silly lies," reacted Miguna.
It is at this point that Sifuna put Miguna on the spot wondering why the Canada-based lawyer opted to administer the oath yet he had not been slotted in for the role.
"Kajwang was, in fact, the designated administrator of the Oath and you know it. It's also a fact that you are the one who ended up administering it. What did you want, a medal?" wondered Sifuna.
[caption caption="Miguna Miguna aids symbolic oath administration at Uhuru Park (PHOTO/COURTESY)"]
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Evidently dejected in the exchange, Miguna held that all he's been up to is fighting against violation of his rights and freedoms.
In a listing of occurrences that preceded the swearing in of Mr Odinga as the people's president, Miguna castigated the ODM leader for finding a truce with the ruling party.
"Mr. Sifuna, all I want is my freedom and rights, which your "owners" have violated and denied me. I have a right to live and work in Kenya; to enter and leave Kenya when I want; to my Kenyan passport. Do you believe these are privileges only Raila Odinga sycophants have?" stated Miguna.
In a message to Mr Odinga, Miguna asserted, "You (Mr Odinga) either respect the Constitution, rule of law, human rights and democracy or you don't. You have shown that you don't care about the constitution, rule of law, democracy or adherence and respect for human rights."
