Lawyer and activist Miguna Miguna has implored ODM leaders not to mobilize youths to interrupt his homecoming ceremony in Kisumu county this Friday.
The lawyer, who jetted back to the country- on October 20 after being forcefully exiled for 1716 days, claims that his trip to Kisumu is an act of peace, emotional and physical restoration.
He has beseeched leaders who are influential in the region to assure him of calm during the visit to his ancestral home. The firebrand lawyer stated that the main aim of his trip is to mourn his family members who died during his time in exile.
“Going home, especially for a person who has been forcefully exiled for 5 years, is not an act of war. It is an act of peace, emotional and physical RESTORATION. To ODM goons: Please don’t mobilize unemployed youth to stone me on Friday. I’m going to mourn my family members,” Miguna Miguna stated.
Going home, especially for a person who has been forcefully exiled for 5 years, is not an act of war. It is an act of peace, emotional and physical RESTORATION. To ODM goons: Please don't mobilize unemployed youth to stone me on Friday. I'm going to mourn my family members.
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) October 26, 2022
Miguna’s trip to Kisumu
On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, Miguna Miguna confirmed that his trip to Kisumu is on amid concerns from locals over the significance of the ‘homecoming’ event.
Miguna is expected to visit his ancestral home in the lake-side city on Friday, October 28, after more than four years in forced exile in Canada.
“I will arrive in Kisumu on Friday, October 28th, 2022. Kenya is Marwa (Kenya ni Yetu)!” Miguna confirmed on Tuesday.
The outspoken counsel, who claims is on a mission to ‘liberate’ the Luo community from long-serving opposition leader Raila Odinga, brushed off comments from a section of residents that his visit is not important.
Speaking to the media, the residents said they are yet to recover from the shocking loss of Raila in the August presidential election and told Miguna to consider cancelling the event.
“We have heard that Miguna Miguna is planning a homecoming event in Kisumu, but how will the event benefit us? How are we connected with Miguna? We want to tell him that we are in pain after the events of the last election. We have no time for those things,” a Kisumu youth said.
Another local threatened to disrupt the event if Miguna defies the residents’ advice.
“Miguna is our son but we are not interested in the so-called homecoming event for now. We want to tell him that our leader is Raila Odinga. We might be forced to chase him away if he insists on coming here,” the resident said.
In his response, Miguna insisted that he won’t be intimidated to cancel the event.
“To Raila Odinga using the media to threaten me will not work. I’m coming to Kisumu on Friday. Go ahead and engage in violence and mayhem. That’s your primary qualification. But in the end, the Luo Nation will and must be liberated,” Miguna said in a tweet.
“Tumeskia Miguna Miguna anataka kufanya homecoming, inatusaidia na nini? How are we connected? We have no time for those things.”
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) October 24, 2022
Some residents views on Miguna Miguna’s Kisumu homecoming.#MchipukoK24 pic.twitter.com/bcgrFQq2Xx