Miguna was not deported – Matiang’i explains

Interior and Coordination Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i on Tuesday morning appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Administration where he stated that lawyer Miguna Miguna was never deported to Dubai.

Matiang’i noted that media reports that the self-declared National Resistance Movement (NRM) was forcefully deported to Dubai were incorrect.

Instead, the CS mentioned that Miguna was simply removed from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as an UNDOCUMENTED person.

Immigration laws

Matiang’i told the Members of Parliament that Immigration laws stipulate that if a person does not produce his passport upon arrival at an airport then he cannot be allowed to enter a country.

“What we did was in compliance with the Immigration laws. No one is exempt. The Pope had his passport stamped on entry. President Barack Obama had his passport stamped on entry. Even President Uhuru Kenyatta had his passport stamped on entry last night,” he said.

The minister argued that Mr Miguna was not deported as he (Matiang’i) did not sign any deportation papers adding that the Canadian-based lawyer was not in Kenya’s jurisdiction.

"If Miguna was deported, I would have signed a deportation order. We could not deport him as he was not in our jurisdiction," Matiang’i said.

Matiang’i further claimed that he did not receive any court orders requiring him to avail Miguna to the High Court.

Deportation orders

"I have never been served with any court order and am not aware of any attempts to serve me.

"Miguna was not deported I never signed any deportation orders. He was not in Kenya, he was a passenger on transit who never presented his credentials," he said.

He refuted claims that Miguna was drugged by police officers stating that he was not aware as the Canadian-based lawyer was not in Kenya

At the same time, PS Gordon Kihalangwa asserted that Miguna was a passenger on transit and had to be taken back to his last port of call.

"A journey at an international airport can only be complete once it is clear what the source of embarking was. Miguna refused to surrender the passport he used to travel from Canada and Dubai," he said.