Kenyans Who Flew With Miguna Arrested In Dubai

The unfolding events in Kenya over the past few hours have left me utterly baffled. Despite my efforts to make sense of it all, I’ve come up short. Sometimes, you try to apply logic and reason to a situation, but what’s happening here seems completely illogical and devoid of motive. My only conclusion, which some of you may find difficult to understand, is that the Kenyan government is battling against a higher power—a force that isn’t human or part of the opposition.

This force appears to be turning the government into a laughingstock. Let me outline the bizarre chain of events so you can draw your own conclusions.

First, goons intercepted Miguna Miguna at the airport. They held him down and injected him multiple times—in the soles of his feet, his arms, and his ribs—with unknown substances until he lost consciousness. Somehow, they managed to load him onto an Emirates flight to Dubai while unconscious.

Miguna regained consciousness mid-flight and realized he was en route to Dubai. Upon arrival, the plan was to force him to board another flight to London, retracing the same route he had taken when entering Kenya (London-Dubai-Nairobi). However, what followed shows a complete lack of foresight.

Did those orchestrating this plan not consider what would happen when Miguna arrived in Dubai? Did they expect him to remain compliant? Predictably, Miguna refused to board the flight to London, claiming he was unwell. According to international law, a sick person cannot be forced onto a plane without medical clearance, and must be accompanied by a doctor if traveling for medical reasons. This immediately ended any attempts to deport him further.

Without travel documents or a passport, Miguna was eventually taken to a hospital with assistance from the Canadian embassy. Medical tests confirmed his claim that he had been drugged and forcibly put on a flight from Nairobi to Dubai. It’s worth noting that this act constitutes a serious criminal offense under international law.

Here’s where things get even more perplexing. The government seemingly operated under the assumption that it could behave in Dubai as it does in Nairobi, disregarding legal and diplomatic norms. But Dubai isn’t Kampala, where you can make a phone call to a friendly leader and bend the rules. This miscalculation led to unconfirmed reports that Kenyan officials accompanying Miguna—including MP Moses Kuria—were detained in Dubai.

Meanwhile, Miguna has released a statement, widely circulated on social media, detailing the ordeal. He insists he will return to Nairobi soon, possibly within a day or two. Experts I’ve consulted agree that the only logical resolution is for Dubai authorities to send Miguna back to Kenya, where he started this journey.

The situation raises many questions. How could such a plan be executed without careful thought? Why wasn’t every possible outcome considered before embarking on such a risky operation? It’s evident that this saga, which might have been manageable in Nairobi, was bound to unravel in Dubai.

In related developments, the Kenyan government appears to be in turmoil. Ambassador Robinson Githae has been recalled from the U.S., and a new ambassador—someone with deep ties to Kenya—has already been appointed. Elsewhere, the widow of the late Joseph Nkaiserry has come forward, pleading for any job to support her children.

The courts are also embroiled in drama. Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, the Immigration Director, and the Inspector General of Police have been found guilty of contempt for ignoring court orders related to Miguna’s case. Sentencing has been delayed, but it’s expected soon.

Amid all this chaos, Kenya’s government is facing ridicule locally and internationally. Many are asking: What is going on in Nairobi? Who is in charge? How can a government behave this way?