Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has defended the government’s role in the deportation of lawyer Miguna Miguna, saying the self-styled “General” of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) turned down a lawful process that would have allowed him to reclaim Kenyan citizenship.
During an interview on Spice FM on Wednesday, Matiang’i said that following Justice Isaac Lenaola’s ruling on dual citizenship, the Immigration Department developed a simplified process for Kenyans who had renounced their citizenship under the old constitution.99 The former CS explained that Miguna was given this opportunity but declined to take it.
“Justice Lenaola’s ruling outlined how to regain citizenship after renouncing it. We created a simple form at the Immigration Department to help Kenyans reclaim citizenship, but Miguna refused to sign it, choosing instead to create drama at the airport,” Matiang’i said.
Miguna’s deportation in 2018, under President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, sparked controversy and legal battles that continued for years.
The government had declared him a non-citizen, citing his previous acquisition of Canadian nationality.
Several court rulings later found his deportation illegal and ordered his return, but the standoff between Miguna and the authorities persisted.
Matiang’i’s remarks appear aimed at clarifying what he describes as a misunderstood issue.
While he insists the government provided a lawful avenue for Miguna’s return, critics argue the process was politically motivated and violated constitutional rights.