KTN switched off over Miguna interview

The government’s stranglehold on the media is not over yet. This emerged once more when KTN News went off air briefly on Thursday afternoon as the station’s news anchor Akisa Wandera was interviewing self-styled NRM General Miguna Miguna live from Canada following High Court Judge Luka Kimaru’s ruling that the decision to deport him was null and void.

Apparently, Miguna was using language that did not sit well with authorities in Kenya but it is not yet clear when the decision to cut short the interview by switching off the broadcast was meant internally or by external forces.

According to Miguna, there is nothing to stop him from coming to Kenya following Justice Kimaru’s ruling since his passport was not cancelled.

In his ruling, which came a day after Justice Chacha Mwita had declined a similar application, Justice Kimaru  directed Director of Immigration Gordon Kihalagwa to surrender Miguna’s passports to court within seven days.

However, in a swift reaction, Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho said the ruling was not in the best interest of the country and the government would appeal it.

“As much as the government respects the court’s decision, it still holds its earlier stated view that the deportation of Miguna was procedural and in accordance to the law. The government’s legal team is reviewing the High Court order and will shortly be appealing the court decision,” Kibicho said in a statement.

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Miguna was deported last week on the orders of Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i on the basis that he did not renew his Kenyan citizenship following the coming into force of the 2010 Constitution, which paved way for Kenyans to hold dual citizenship.

Miguna, who fled the country during the regime of former President Moi, also holds a Canadian passport.

He was deported for allegedly binding NASA leader Raila Odinga to commit the capital offence of treason by witnessing his “installation” as the People’s President at Uhuru Park on January 30.

Miguna has denied renouncing his Kenyan citizenship and vowed to return to the country soon.

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He has since announced that he would next week embark on a worldwide tour to register support for NASA’s National Resistance Movement (NRM), which the government has proscribed as an illegal organised group.

“To #NRMKe generals, soldiers, members, supporters and followers WORLDWIDE: Starting next week, February 19, 2018, I will embark on an #NRMKe GLOBAL MOBILIZATION & RECRUITMENT TOUR. I will meet and strategize with our FORCES in North America, Europe, Asia & Africa. VIVA!” he tweeted on Wednesday.