Gov't Explains Why Miguna Miguna Hasn't Been Cleared to Enter Kenya

The government through Ministry of Interior has explained why Miguna Miguna has been barred from entering the country after landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday afternoon.

In a statement, the ministry dismissed claims by the firebrand lawyer that Immigration officials refused to clear him for reentry. The Ministry said that the self-declared National Resistance Movement general instead declined to produce the passport he traveled in to Kenya as required.

"IATA regulations requires travellers to show the documents they travelled in at the point of entry," Mwenda Njoka, the ministry's spokesperson, said on Monday evening.

Miguna’s lawyer, Cliff Ombeta earlier said the officials wanted him to surrender his Canadian passport, but he refused, causing a standoff.

"They want him to take a temporary visa so that he becomes stateless when it expires. We have advised him not to sign the papers. They are now consulting their seniors,” Mr Ombeta told journalists at the airport.

"The despots have denied me entry! They are insisting that I must enter as a foreigner on a visa. I will not and cannot agree. My advocates appear either too weak or compromised," Miguna said.

Reports indicated that the immigration officials want him to apply for a 6-month tourist Visa to allow him stay in the country, but Miguna has refused.

"There is no way I will agree to what they are asking because what it does is that it waives rights that will never be restored. I know the mischief," Miguna said.

The flight carrying the firebrand lawyer landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 2.30pm.