Lawyer Miguna Miguna has expressed his utmost gratitude towards Kenyans who 'stood' by him during his tribulations after he was exiled.
Speaking shortly after landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday, October 20, 2022, the firebrand lawyer acknowledged the effort of his supporters who extended a hand towards him during his quest for justice.
"I am very very very grateful for the warm welcome you have given me, I extend my gratitude to all Kenyans who have stood with me, who have stood with the way of rights in the constitution, who have stood with the course of justice, who have stood with the principles of the rule of law," he stated.
He additionally lauded the Judiciary for 'delivering' on their mandate without taking sides.
Similarly, Miguna expressed his utmost gratitude towards the current administration for enabling him to return home after almost five years of exile.
"I would like to extend my gratitude to the Judiciary that took firm on the side of the rule of law, I must extend my gratitude to Kenyans that voted overwhelmingly for the Kenya Kwanza government because that is central for me," the lawyer stated.
"Without this administration, I would not be back home, I am thanking his excellency the president, the deputy president and his administration and everybody else who has worked tirelessly to make sure that my rights are protected and the rights of every other Kenyan," he added.
While commending the head of state President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, Miguna affirmed that it was unjust for any Kenyan-born citizen to be forcefully removed from his country and punished in a foreign country.
"What has happened to me should never have happened to anyone else, a Kenyan-born citizen cannot be discarded, removed, forcefully from the country and punished in a foreign land," he added.
Miguna returns home
Miguna arrived in Kenya today, October 20, 2022, marking an end to years of exile.
Friends and relatives received the firebrand lawyer at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi County.
He had earlier updated his followers that he was on his way to Nairobi ahead of the Mashujaa day celebrations.
"With Dr. (Rev) Frankline Mondo Mugisha at the Dubai International Airport - hours before our flight to Nairobi. See you at the #Mashujaa. Viva!" he wrote.
Notably, Miguna rescheduled his homecoming date to a few days before his initial date citing popular demands.
Earlier, he announced that he would be touching down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Sunday, October 25, 2022.
In a late-night post on social media, the lawyer who was deported almost five years ago stated that he would be arriving in the country on October 20, 2022.
"My homecoming arrival date and time have been changed by popular demand. Arrival: October 20, 2022, at 6.00 AM. See you at the JKIA, Patriots," he wrote.
When Miguna was deported
Miguna had been deported to Canada where he is also a citizen following his role in the unofficial swearing-in of opposition leader Raila Odinga as "the people's president" back in 2018.
In April this year, while appearing for a media interview, Matiang'i indicated that Miguna was required to fill out a one-page document to re-register for Kenya citizenship.
Matiang'i said that was the only way the lawyer would secure his travel back according to the new constitution.
"You have to fill out a piece of paper so that you regain your Kenyan passport or citizenship. There's a judgment by the court on this matter which prescribed clearly how you regain your citizenship," Matiang'i stated.
He added: "There are court rulings in place by the high court on how you regain citizenship after you lost citizenship in the old constitution. Because in the old constitution you were not allowed to have dual citizenship.”
