Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has finally said exiled lawyer-cum-politician and self-proclaimed leader of the outlawed National Resistance Movement (NRM) Joshua Miguna Miguna has to formally re-apply for Kenyan citizenship to be allowed back into the country.
The CS’s latest ultimatum is likely to spark new controversy as the country gears up for the August 9 general elections.
However, the CS said these are mandatory requirements the Canadian based lawyer must meet to return into the country.
“You have to fill a piece of paper so that you regain your Kenyan passport or citizenship. There’s a judgment by the court on this matter which prescribed clearly how you regain your citizenship.”Matiang’i said during an exclusive interview with NTV.
He asserted that Miguna will be required to fill out a one-page document for citizenship re-registration, which will allow him to return to the country.
“When that gentleman (Miguna) was here, one of our senior counsels called me and asked if I can try and sort the citizenship for this man but I have no powers under the law, he himself said under the result of the ruling he will have to fill that piece of paper.”
Matiang’i said the former advisor to the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the now Azimio One Kenya Coalition presidential flagberarer lost his citizenship due to the requirements of the old constitution, which prohibited dual citizenship.
He stated that the implementation of the new constitution has enabled a large number of Kenyans to reclaim their citizenship through the same registration process as stipulated by law.
“There are court rulings in place by the high court on how you regain citizenship after you lost citizenship in the old constitution. Because in the old constitution you were not allowed to have dual citizenship,” said Matiang’i.
“When the new constitution was enacted which provides for dual citizenship, a process on how to regain the citizenship was enacted in the act, you have to regain your citizenship if you lost it. Over 300,000 Kenyans have regained their citizenship, the process is as simple as filling a one-page document.”
He went on to chastise the embattled lawyer for failing to comply with court orders, claiming that it is a simple task that requires no argument.
“We have opened immigration offices across the world even in Canada…what is it that’s so difficult in filling this one-page piece of paper?” he posed.
This comes as Miguna has been at odds with the Kenyan government over his return, claiming that he is a Kenyan citizen by birth and does not need to reapply.
His most recent attempt to return to Kenya hit a snag after the government issued a fresh red-alert to Air France which Miguna had planned to board from Germany’s capital Berlin.
Taking to Twitter, Miguna said: “This is to inform Kenyans and the world that @airfrance officials at the check-in counter at the Berlin Brandenburg Airport have just informed me that the Government of Kenya sent them a “red Alert” this morning that they cannot fly me to Nairobi. I’m waiting for a copy.”
“They have refused to state “Red Alert.” But they have indicated that it is obvious and they empathize with me but that there is nothing they can do. Let our legal team get to work. Thanks, everyone for the support. Aluta Continua,” he added.
Lawyer Miguna had earlier vowed to travel back to Kenya despite the High Court decision declining to lift red alerts blocking his smooth travel.
In a statement on Friday 12th November, he declared that he will not hesitate to travel saying that he already has a valid court order.
“I will proceed with my journey as previously communicated and in accordance with Justice Chacha Mwita’s Order of December 14, 2018, and Justice Weldon Korir’s Order of January 6, 2020,” read the statement.
