Miguna Miguna's path to deportation

He was reportedly put into a KLM flight departing Nairobi for Amsterdam minutes to 10pm - hours after refusing to take plea in a Kajiado court for charges related to the mock swearing-in of Raila Odinga as the People’s President.

One of Miguna’s lawyers, Nelson Havi, said on Twitter: “We are reliably informed that Miguna Miguna has been forced into a KLM flight for “deportation” to Canada. Now, how do you deport a Kenyan? This Country has been overrun by criminals”.

And as Kenyans continue to express mixed reactions over the deportation, we trace the path that culminated in into his exile to Canada:

Political career

Miguna's political stint dates back to March 2016 when he declared that he would be vying for the position of Governor for Nairobi as an independent candidate. He would rally Nairobians to vote for him based on his solid and all-encompassing manifesto and vision.

He however faced fierce competition from his rivals and more so Jubilee Party candidate Mike Mbuvi Sonko who was eventually powered to the high office by a slew of populist interventions.

The maverick lawyer once sparked outrage after making sexually aggressive comments towards his fellow Nairobi gubernatorial hopeful Esther Passaris on a local TV show.

Uhuruto critic

He later on became an anti-Jubilee rhetoric after losing to Sonko having come fourth in the elections held in August 8, 2017. His fallout with the Jubilee government may have stemmed from the fact that he received no support from President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto may during his campaigns.

A flashback to five years ago may all but explain the reason for squabble.

Miguna was once a vehement supporter of the two leaders in the run up to the 2013 elections after falling out with Raila Odinga who he served as an advisor.

The outspoken lawyer made public some of the best kept secrets around the former Prime Minister through his book, Peeling Back the Mask: A Quest for Justice.

And while Miguna rooted for 'Uhuruto' then, he did not receive any similar support from the duo while vying for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat.

Foe-turned-ally

Miguna then teamed up with his former boss after losing in the Aug 8 poll in what was a case of a foe-turned-ally. His political mileage gained momentum even further as he ferociously attacked both Uhuru and Ruto on several occasions terming them as an 'illegitimate government.'

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His budding political relationship with the NASA outfit became even more solid towards the end of last year when he alongside other members of the opposition pushed for the swearing-in Mr. Odinga as the "People's President."

So much was his commitment to the opposition that when the party launched the NRM resistance wing, Miguna proclaimed himself as the movement's leader.

Swearing-in

Miguna was at the centre of Mr. Odinga's swearing-in which took place on January,30 2018. It was his presence at the controversial ceremony that saw the government launch sustained attacks on him in what was a state crackdown on participants in the oath ceremony.

He was first arrested by police officers in his Karen home last Friday before being detained in the cells for five days despite court orders to have him released. His lawyer John Khaminwa at one point told the Court that he feared for the life of his client, who reportedly suffered an asthma attack on Sunday while in police custody.

Deportation

The police failed to present him in the High Court for over three times despite court orders directing them to do so. And after a series of court drama, Miguna was finally deported to Canada aboard a KLM flight.

Nexus Kenya, the Jubilee government newsroom posted on its official Twitter account: “Miguna is headed home. The court ordered he gets released and @InteriorKE obeyed the orders and even assisted him with a flight ticket home. Please note he renewed his Canadian Passport on 16th June 2017”.

Interior Ministry spokesman, Mwenda Njoka, said that Miguna denounced his Kenyan citizenship years back, acquired Canadian citizenship and never reclaimed his Kenyan citizenship in the legally prescribed manner.

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His deportation however remains a mystery to many Kenyans as it is not clear what law the government used to eject him from Kenya since the Constitution guarantees him citizenship given that he is Kenyan by birth.

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