Miguna Miguna to Contest for Nairobi Governor's Seat

Kenyan-Canadian attorney Miguna Miguna says he will contest for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in the forthcoming elections. 

Miguna, who was deported to Canada in 2018, announced the move during an interview on KTN News on Wednesday night, saying he is eligible to vie for the seat.

“I intend to run for the Nairobi governor seat. I am a registered voter and I can run for any office,” Miguna said.

Miguna unsuccessfully contested for the same seat in the 2017 general elections on an independent ticket, garnering less than one percent of the votes cast. He finished fourth behind Mike Sonko of Jubilee Party, Evans Kidero of ODM, and Peter Kenneth. 

“I will be running on a party yet to be declared; that is where it is. Wait for the announcement, if I change my mind I will let you know,” Miguna added.

It is not clear how Miguna will contest and conduct his campaigns as his attempts to return to the country have been futile.

Miguna was deported in February 2018 following his arrest for taking part in the mock swearing-in of ODM leader Raila Odinga as ‘people’s president’. The Immigration Department later stated that Miguna was illegally in the country, saying he had renounced his Kenyan citizenship while acquiring a Canadian passport.

In 2018, Justice Chacha Mwita ruled that Miguna is a Kenyan citizen and that his birthright is not affected by him holding a Canadian passport. The judge added that Miguna’s rights were violated when they deported him and awarded Sh7 million as compensation. 

Several court orders have since been issued directing the government to facilitate Miguna’s return to Kenya but authorities have ignored these orders.