Emirates plane carrying 400 passengers grounded as Miguna resists deportation

Self-styled National Resistance Movement (NRM) general Miguna Miguna on Monday evening caused drama at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as he resisted deportation to Dubai via a Fly Emirates flight EK722.

Mr Miguna’s attempted deportation came after a dramatic 9-hour standoff between the ex-Nairobi gubernatorial candidate and immigration officials and policemen at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The Fly Emirates plane, which was scheduled to depart from JKIA at 10:45pm Monday, was grounded for over an hour as it waited for the unexpected extra passenger – Miguna Miguna.

The plane left JKIA at 12:05am Tuesday without Mr Miguna on board.

NASA chief Raila Odinga arrived at the JKIA at 10:05pm to facilitate Mr Miguna’s entry into the country, but his efforts were thwarted. Businessman Jimmy Wanjigi’s efforts to gain entry into the Terminal E arrivals point, where Mr Miguna was, were also thwarted. Mr Wanjigi said he had gone to the airport to show solidarity with Mr Miguna.

Mr Miguna was bundled into the Fly Emirates flight, which had more than 400 passengers, by GSU and uniformed policemen.

Citizen TV’s Jeff Koinange, who was aboard the flight, said Mr Miguna’s clothes were torn during the scuffle, as Mr Miguna shouted that he wasn’t going to board the flight.

“The immigration officials told the pilot that the flight was not going to leave until it had Mr Miguna on board. The foreign passengers were wondering who Mr Miguna was, and we had to profile him to them,” said Mr Koinange.

The plane was carrying passengers, who were headed to different destinations such as Malaysia, USA, Germany, among other destinations via Dubai.

The government early Monday, March 26, dismissed claims Miguna Miguna was denied entry into the country upon arrival from Canada on Monday.

The Interior ministry said Mr Miguna declined to present the passport he travelled in upon arrival at JKIA as required by law.

Mwenda Njoka, the ministry’s spokesperson, said: “IATA regulations requires travellers to show the documents they travelled in at the point of entry.”

There was a stand-off at the JKIA after Mr Miguna declined to be issued with a tourist visa to gain entry.

Miguna said he suspcted the tourist visa application, as sought by immigrations, was a trick which he wasn’t going to fall for.

He said applying for the visa would take away his rights.

He maintained that the government had to adhere to court orders issued, which stated he be allowed entry as a Kenyan citizen.