Drama as Kenya bars opposition leaders from attending Tsvangirai burial
BY Fauxile Kibet
Kenyan immigration officials Monday barred two opposition politicians from attending the funeral of Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai who died last week after a long battle with cancer.
The two, Senator James Orengo and businessman Jimi Wanjigi had booked tickets to fly to Zimbabwe but were stopped by immigration officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Immigration officials confiscated the two opposition leaders’ passports and informed that they had been suspended despite an earlier court order that had ordered the two be given back their travel documents after they were recalled a few days ago.
But the officials presented copies of orders from government instructing them not to let the two leave the country. However, Head of Kenya’s Immigration boss Maj-Gen (Rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa when contacted said that he was not aware of any court orders demanding the reinstatement of the two opposition leaders’ travel documents.
“The immigration boss says he has not seen the orders yet he has them. This is total impunity and it’s the latest such incident to happen in a series where government officials are ignoring orders,” said Senator Orengo.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga had earlier travelled to Zimbabwe to attend the funerl.
HIGH COURT VERDICT
The country’s high court had nullified a decision by government to suspend passports of seven opposition leaders pending the hearing of a case filed by the leaders seeking the reinstatement of their travel rights.
Kenya government took the action against opposition leaders after they took part in a mock swearing in ceremony of Opposition leader Raila Odinga at the country’s capital Nairobi on 30th January.
Nairobi also deported one opposition activist Miguna Miguna who was part of the key planners of the event on claims that he was not a Kenyan citizen – despite court orders demanding that Mr Miguna be released and his travel documents reinstated.
Kenya has over the past weeks come under local and international pressure over its actions that went against orders issued by the country’s top courts.
The country’s law society also warned of shrinking democracy in Kenya following the government’s disregard of court orders.
“It is extremely alarming when it is the government that willfully disobeys the law. The state should demonstrate, by example to the citizens, the importance of adhering to the law for the preservation of a constitutional democracy,” Law Society of Kenya chairman Isaac Okero told the media.