Immediate former Immigrations Director General George Kihalangwa, the State Officer who authorised the controversial deportation of Miguna Miguna, has officially taken up a new job as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Immigrations.
Mr Kihalangwa took his new role on Wednesday in a ceremonial handover at Nyayo House as the Principal Secretary, State Department of Immigration, Border Control and Registration of Persons.
General Kihalangwa took over the new office from his predecessor after the swearing-in fete at State House last week, in which President Uhuru Kenyatta warned against laxity.
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Prior to his appointment, General Kihalangwa was serving as the Director of Immigrations, a docket that saw him authorise a fiery plan to forcefully deport National Resistance Movement leader Miguna Miguna.
While defending the controversial deportation of the fiery lawyer, Kihalangwa said he could not be faulted because he was not aware of any court orders since he was not a party to the case before Justice Luka Kimaru.
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“The action taken against the applicant was guided by the Constitution, the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act and several High Court decisions on similar matters,” said the Major –General in a sworn affidavit demanded by Justice Kimaru.
His sentiments were echoed by Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet who denied disobeying court orders.
“I did not disobey the order of this court. At the time I received the information that the DCI and I were required to be present before the court, I was already scheduled to attend a meeting,” he said.
Defaced passport
Mr Kihalangwa also hit headlines when he surrendered Miguna’s defaced Kenyan passport, after the Court ordered him to.
On February 15, the court ordered Kihalangwa to surrender Miguna’s revoked passport within seven days. The perforated passport was delivered through lawyer Fred Ngatia and has now been attached to Miguna’s court file.
“In compliance with orders issued on February 15, we attach the perforated passport of the applicant. The compliance, however, is without prejudice to our client’s rights to challenge the legal validity of the orders issued by the court," said Ngatia.