Lawyer Miguna Miguna is elated to be back home after four years in forced exile in Canada.
Miguna, who arrived in Kenya on Thursday, October 20, describes his return to the country as historic.
In an appreciation post to his supporters on Friday, the outspoken barrister said there is ‘nothing sweeter than home’.
“The return to my motherland yesterday was historic. I had a fantastic first day and night. Thank you to all Kenyans who embraced and welcomed me back home,” Miguna said in a tweet on Friday morning.
He also shared his new phone number (075-707-7930) with the public but cautioned Kenyans against adding him to WhatsApp groups, a notorious trend in the country.
“My new number is: 075-707-7930. Apologies in advance if I don’t respond to, or answer everyone’s call/text. Viva!
“Please do not add me to WhatsApp groups without permission. I thank everyone sincerely for the overwhelming support. There is nothing sweeter than home!” he added.
The return to my MOTHERLAND yesterday was HISTORIC. I had a FANTASTIC first day and night. THANK YOU to all Kenyans who embraced and welcomed me back home. My new number is: 075-707-7930. Apologies in advance if I don’t respond to, or answer everyone’s call/text. Viva!
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) October 21, 2022
Miguna back home
Miguna touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) a few minutes past 6:00 am on Thursday.
He said he was extremely happy to be back home after several failed attempts.
“I am extremely happy to be back home. I extend my gratitude to all Kenyans who have stood with me, and with the bill of rights in the constitution. I pay gratitude to the Judiciary that stood firm on the side of the rule of law,” Miguna said.
He later joined other Kenyans in Mashujaa Day celebrations at the Uhuru Gardens before heading to State House for a luncheon hosted by President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto.
Miguna had in a past statement said he was allowed to travel to Kenya after President William Ruto-led government issued him with a new passport and lifted red alerts imposed against him by the previous administration.
“I didn’t have to sign the silly forms they were speaking about.”
In a past statement issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government had stated that Miguna was required to fill out a one-page document for citizenship re-registration would then allow him to return to the country.
Matiang’i, at the time, argued that the lawyer had lost his citizenship due to the requirements of the old constitution, which prohibited dual citizenship, claims that Miguna rubbished.
“You must fill out a piece of paper to regain your Kenyan passport or citizenship. There’s a judgment by the court on this matter which prescribed clearly how you regain your citizenship,” said Matiang’i in a media interview on April 18, 2022.
He added: “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.”
The self-declared National Resistance Movement (NRM) general was forced out of the country after taking part in the controversial swearing-in of ODM leader Raila Odinga as the ‘people’s president’ following the disputed 2017 election results.
