This archive report was first published on 8 January 2020.
January 8, 2020
Lawyer Miguna Miguna's troubles continued on Tuesday night when he was removed from a Nairobi-bound flight at Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport.
Dr. Miguna had boarded the Air France flight, but was denied boarding after the airline received a red alert from Kenyan authorities.
"Yes, Air France removed me from Flight AF0814 from Charles De Gaulle Airport to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) which was to take off…….they have sent red alert to all airlines," Dr. Miguna tweeted late Tuesday.
According to Dr. Miguna, Air France told him that it was acting on instructions from Kenyan authorities.
"We confirm that at the request of Kenyan authorities, we were obliged to deny boarding. Like all airlines, Air France is required to comply with the entry requirements for the countries it serves," the airline said in a reply tweet.
Dr. Miguna's troubles began earlier on Tuesday when he was blocked from boarding a connecting flight to Nairobi from Germany due to the red alert.
He had tweeted earlier, assuring his supporters that he was to arrive at JKIA at 9.45am Wednesday.
Dr. Miguna's attempt to return to Kenya has been met with several challenges, including his deportation in February 2018 and his failed attempt to return on March 26, 2018.
However, on Monday, the Kenyan government said it would facilitate the return of the vocal opposition politician into the country following court orders to that effect.
Director of Immigration Alexander Muteshi said in a statement on Monday that the directorate would facilitate Dr. Miguna's entry into Kenya in compliance with court orders issued on December 14, 2018.
