The saga concerning the deportation of lawyer Miguna Miguna, the self-proclaimed National Resistance Movement general, reads like a chapter in a movie script.
From a dramatic arrest to secret transfers from various police stations and a midnight deportation, this is what has unfolded since Friday.
Friday, January 2, 8am: Miguna is arrested at his Runda home in Nairobi, with police using force to break into his house, and taken to Kiambu police station.
This is days after he and Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang administered an oath to opposition leader Raila Odinga at Uhuru Park. He was the one who stamped the document.
Friday, January 2, 2pm: High Court judge James Wakiaga directs that Miguna be released on a Sh50,000 cash bail. He certifies as urgent, an application Miguna filed through lawyer John Khaminwa, and says the order should, however, be personally served to Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet for the orders to be effected.
Friday, January 2, 5pm: Miguna’s lawyers and NASA politicians visit Githunguri Police Station where they announce that authorities have refused to release the former Nairobi governor candidate. They also claim residents of Githunguri gathered at the station to bar them from leaving with Miguna. The lawyer ends up spending the night in police cells.
Saturday, January 3: Members of Nasa coalition and Miguna’s family accuse police of barring them from seeing him. They were at Lari police station where they suspected that the lawyer was being held after being transferred from Githunguri. However, OCPD Isaiah Odhiambo denied Miguna was in Lari cells and said the family had been misinformed.
Sunday, January 4: Miguna’s lawyers castigate police for denying him access to a doctor at Lari cells. Lawyers Nelson Havi and Edwin Sifuna say Miguna’s health has deteriorated and that he has not received medical attention. In Kibera, Miguna’s supporters take to the streets with placards to demand his release.
Monday, January 5, 9am:High Court Judge Luka Kimaru orders the Inspector General of police and the DCI to produce Miguna Miguna in court at 2pm. The judge says Boinnet and the new DCI George Kinoti should comply with the order.
Monday, January 5, 4pm: After the state fails to produce Miguna in court, Justice Kimaru orders Boinnet and Kinoti to personally present Miguna in court at 9am on Tuesday. The judge says the two openly acted in contempt of court even after being ordered twice to release the accused.
Tuesday, January 6, 9am: Assistant DPP Nicholas Mutuku tells justice Kimaru that Miguna has been charged at a Kajiado Court . However, the lawyer refused to take a plea there and demanded that he be taken back to Nairobi’s Milimani court. For the third time, the court adjourns without seeing Miguna.
Tuesday, January 6 (mid-morning):Pockets of Protestsare reported in Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori with Nasa supporters demanding the release of their ‘general’.
Tuesday, January 6, 2pm: Kajiado magistrate Edwin Mulochi orders that Miguna be taken to Nairobi where a case on his arrest is ongoing.
Tuesday, January 6, 5pm: Kimaru directs police to immediately release Miguna noting that the Nasa politician remains free on the Sh50,000 anticipatory bail granted on February 2. He says Miguna was within the court premises and that he would ensure his release.
Tuesday, January 6, 6pm: Raila leads top opposition MPs in a lengthy vigil at Milimani law courts as they wait for Miguna to be released. The Nasa chief went straight to the packed court moments after 3 pm and left at about 7.25 pm.
Tuesday, January 6, 9pm: Reports emerge that Miguna is being kicked out of the country through an order by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i. Havi said that he had learnt from his client’s family that he had been deported.
Tuesday, January 6, 11:50pm: The plane carrying Miguna taxies into the JKIA runway ahead of departure a few minutes later.
Tuesday, January 7, 12:19am: The government confirms kicking Miguna out of the country days after he was arrested over Raila’s oath-taking.