Nairobi Court Bars Gov’t from Blocking Miguna Miguna’s Entry into Kenya

The High Court in Nairobi has issued fresh orders directing the government to facilitate the entry of deported lawyer Miguna Miguna back to the country.

In a ruling on Monday, High Court Justice Weldon Korir barred Kenya’s Immigration Department and other State agencies from interfering with the return of Miguna on Tuesday or any other date.

Miguna left Canada on Sunday en route to Kenya more than a year after he was forcibly removed from the country over allegations that he renounced his Kenyan citizenship while acquiring a Canadian passport.

Miguna announced he will be making several stopovers before taking his final flight that will touch down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) minutes after 9 pm on Tuesday, January 7th.

Miguna’s lawyer John Khaminwa insisted that Kenyan immigration authorities must allow him into the country in compliance with court orders. The government has previously defied court orders directing it to facilitate his return to Kenya.

Miguna was first deported in February 2018, days after his arrest over his role in the mock swearing-in of ODM leader Raila Odinga on January 30th, 2018. The immigration department later said that Miguna was in Kenya illegally as he renounced his Kenyan citizenship when acquiring a Canadian passport.

In March 2018, he attempted to return to Kenya but was banished again after spending several hours at the JKIA detention facility. In December 2018, the High Court ruled that Miguna is a Kenyan by birth and holding a Canadian passport does not deny him his birthright. 

In his ruling, Justice Chacha Mwita declared that the State violated his rights by deporting him and awarded Miguna KSh7.2 million in compensation.