Miguna’s deportation an insult to Uhuru-Raila pact: Nasa MPs

The leaders said the government’s actions against fiery Nasa activist Dr Miguna Miguna and the move to deport him against court orders, was an ‘insult’ to an agreement signed by the two leaders on March 9.

Mr Odinga, during his tour of parts of Nyanza two weeks ago, assured residents that his famous handshake with President Kenyatta would have positive results.

Mr Odinga said the new working relationship would address compensation of victims of the 2017 post-election violence, historical injustices, restoration of Nasa leaders’ security details as well as allowing Dr Miguna back into the country.

Speaking in Ahero, in Dr Miguna’s home town, and Kondele in Kisumu, the ODM leader assured residents that the fiery lawyer would be allowed into the country without any hitch.

CHARGES DROPPED

At Kondele, Mr Odinga said: “We agreed that all those who were arrested after my ‘oath’ and as a result of last year’s election be released, charges dropped.”

“We also agreed to have families maimed by police during elections and those whose relatives were killed be compensated and gun licences for some of the Nasa leaders to be upheld,” he added.

“We also agreed that Miguna Miguna be accepted back in the country,” he said.

But the turn of events leading to the self-declared National Resistance Movement self-declared general’s deportation has sent tongues wagging among Mr Odinga’s supporters and some leaders who feel that the President was not keen on the pact.

Whereas some leaders remained cagey on the matter, others said they were afraid the pact would not be honoured fully.

HANDSHAKE

Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch said: “Up to now, the terms of the handshake are not known. The humiliation meted to RAO (Mr Odinga) over Miguna saga and blatant disregard of court orders, point only to one fact; the handshake was meant to break Nasa.”

The MP claimed it was an exercise meant to alienate and isolate Mr Odinga, weaken his co-principals and make Deputy President William Ruto stronger.

Uriri MP Mark Nyamita said President Kenyatta could not claim he did not know whatever was going on in the Miguna saga.

“The continued disregard of the court orders and Miguna’s treatment is against human rights and the President cannot sit back and watch unless he is presiding over lawlessness,” Mr Nyamita said.

Mr Nyamita said that the on goings only depicted that the country was still “far from truce.”

Seme MP James Nyikal said: “In my view, either Uhuru is not sincere or he is not the one in charge of the country.”

OBSERVING

Muhoroni MP Onyango Koyoo said they were keenly monitoring the actions of the government.
“We are observing keenly,” he said in an SMS to the Nation.

ODM National Treasurer Timothy Bosire said Kenyans were ready to forget the past but the actions and inactions of the government were worrying.

“Kenyans were ready to forget the past, hoping the regime was becoming remorseful but Jubilee leadership is pretending to get away with crime,” Mr Bosire said.

He added: “Kenyan society is an integral part of the global democratic system. We have signed important protocols across the world including the ICC concession and things must be done correctly.”

EYESORE
He said, it was unfortunate that the Miguna issue was mismanaged hence painting Kenya in negative light across the world.

“This is a small matter that could have been handled quietly. Kenya is his (Miguna’s) birth place and he cannot be deprived of that right. The current action is an eyesore to this country,” Mr Bosire said.

Nyanza clerics asked President Kenyatta to keep his word and ensure peaceful coexistence among Kenyans.

Led by the Nyanza council of church leaders chairman Bishop Washington Ogonyo-Ngede, the clergy said the actions meted against Mr Miguna were slowly reigniting tension in the region.