Miguna Miguna: The Swamp is Flooded

Miguna Miguna

‘I would rather have my integrity intact and be a pauper than be a billionaire who is spat at whenever he has passed by’ those are the words Miguna jotted down, that he should be remembered by.

The media refer to him as an ardent activist, fiery, combatant lawyer, controversial even. Political analysts say that the government is afraid of him and the wananchi think that he is the right dose applied in excess.

Miguna ‘Joshua’ Miguna is better described in the words of Plato; a political animal. The exact terms being homo politicus, for those interested in further knowledge.

Miguna, like his peers in the struggle for liberation of post-colonial Kenya from successive totalitarian regimes, has made sacrifices that Kenyans must never undermine.

From his life accounts, Dr Miguna is painted as a vocal leader who neither relents nor quits on the principles of integrity and constitutionalism. He tells the truth unabashedly and with lethal precision. 

It is perhaps why some of his acquaintances think of him as arrogant.

He calls out crime and criminals by their rightful names. He apportions blame where it is due and serves the ‘cartels’ bitter pills to swallow whenever. The ills and impunity are to him the swamp that he intends to ‘drain’.

Miguna Miguna adressing the press

Case in point, when he rose to challenge the version of ‘democracy’ and nyayo philosophy of peace, love and unity that former Head of Civil Service and Moi loyalist Simeon Nyachae was promoting at a meeting with the National Youth Service recruits in 1985.

The young ‘recruit’ made it clear that the regime was pretentious and dictatorial by denying Oginga Odinga his political rights to form a party of his own.

The once political refugee knows what it takes to live a life on the run. Running from injustice and inhumanity: From the tender age of 11 when he fled brutal abuse at the hands of his uncle and cousins to when he was a student leader at the University of Nairobi and had to flee former president Moi’s autocratic rule in 1987.

Forceful detention and torture at the hands of the special branch officers, alongside fellow university student leaders for engaging in ‘dissident’ activities did little to cripple his quest for democratic ideals. He came out stronger. He overcame that swamp.

Why do I refer to him as innately political? Could it be because he doesn’t look forward to dirty deals - which ALL tenderprenuers and government apologists jostle for? Or is it because he has been born into politics and is entitled our votes as his birth right? The latter is false. 

 Several attempts have been made at his life in order that he should abandon the demand for justice, integrity and accountability from political leadership. Miguna has proven unyielding. What does he see in Kenya that he should lay his life aside for the liberation of Kenya?

We recently witnessed the drama that ensued at terminal 2 of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where the self declared General of the National Resistance Movement of Kenya was detained and thereafter hurled into a Dubai bound plane contrary to existing court order requiring Miguna’s presence in the country.

(From Left) Raila Odinga, Miguna Miguna, Cliff Ombeta

Surely the swamp must have been full for a citizen by birth to be ‘chased’ and termed as a foreigner.

Disorder and commotion was witnessed as former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Jimmy Wanjigi, Orengo, Khaminwa, Ombeta among others’ supporters were pushed and shoved by the police who turned up in their scores at the airport.

Journalists were tossed about and injured in the course of their duty and the swamp of impunity was without doubt, flooded. 

Later on it was clear that the father of five had been deported for the second time in the same year to Dubai. The first time was after he presided over the mock swearing in of Odinga as the People’s President in which he had previously been detained and deported to Canada.

Who is Miguna the son of Miguna that he should not fear power, wealth or position? Could he be the elixir Kenya needs to cure runaway impunity and entrenched corruption? 

Miguna, known for his famous and punchy sound bite, come baby come, remains defiant in the face of the happenings and vows to return to Kenya as he claims the government cannot ‘chase’ him from his home land. 

My attempt to decode the character of Miguna is far from sensational as it is purely factual.