Miguna Responds to Govt Memo Ordering Officials to Allow His Return

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An Image of lawyer Miguna Miguna in his office in Canada
Miguna Miguna

Exiled Kenyan Lawyer Miguna Miguna, on Tuesday, November 30, issued a respond to the green light given by the Kenyan government on his return.

In a statement, the lawyer welcomed the move but stated that he wanted the court order to be followed fully.

According to the fiery activist, he would not be reapplying for his citizenship if that was the condition for him to return to the country.

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Lawyer Miguna Miguna (left) in Berlin, Germany, on Monday, November 15, 2021
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Miguna Miguna

"What they want me to do is fill forms for citizenship, which I never lost," he remarked, "Court orders must be obeyed. Period," he paused. 

Miguna claimed that those calling for him to fill the forms were either genuinely ignorant or were maliciously driven. He further accused government of  accusing it of defying an initial order issued by High Court judge, Hedwig Ong'udi.

"The issue is obedience of court orders. Justice Ong'udi ordered them to comply within 72hours. They refused to comply. It's 144 hours after. And they are talking of "forms" not compliance," his statement read in part.

He argued that his original Kenyan passport was destroyed when his home was raided in 2018 by people he believed were members of the national police service. He, however, continues to hold his Kenyan National Identity Card which the courts directed be recognised for purposes of being cleared after landing on Kenyan soil. 

His statement comes after the state directed him to visit embassies in Ottawa, Canada and Berlin, Germany.

In a letter signed by the Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto, the government asked the Kenyan High Commissions in Ottawa and Berlin to facilitate Miguna’s travel by issuing him with the requisite travel documents upon the provision of the necessary documentation.

The outspoken lawyer, who was blocked from boarding an Air France flight destined for Nairobi on November 16,  sought clearance from the Kenyan Embassy in Berlin.

However, his application to travel to Nairobi was declined despite a court order directing the government to allow him entry.

In his letter addressed to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi, the Solicitor General noted that the government had issued express instructions for the Embassies to clear Miguna to travel.

LSK President Nelson Havi (right) takes a selfie with embattled Lawyer Miguna Miguna on March 26, 2018.
LSK President Nelson Havi (right) takes a selfie with embattled Lawyer Miguna Miguna on March 26, 2018.
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Nelson Havi