Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has said that he will travel to Canada next month to bring home deported lawyer Miguna Miguna.

Mutunga has accused the government of abusing Miguna’s rights and disregarding several court orders directing that they facilitate the activist’s return to the country.

According to the former Chief Justice, who is also a human rights defender, his reasons to fight for Miguna’s rights is informed by the need to hold the government accountable and to defend the authority and independence of the Judiciary.

“The first is because of the continued, flagrant and reprehensible defiance of the Government of Kenya, its agencies and senior officials, against the numerous valid court orders in favour of Mr Miguna,”

“The second reason … is to support and defend the independence of our Judiciary, its authority and the people’s confidence in it,” Mutunga said.

Mutunga called on journalists to accompany him on the historic journey and also appealed all Kenyans of goodwill to support the cause because it is just.

Miguna, who holds dual citizenship for Kenya and Canada, was first deported in February 2018 after taking part in the swearing-in of Raila  Odinga as the ‘People’s President’ at Uhuru Park on January 30, 2018, following the disputed 2017 presidential elections.

He attempted to return to the country later in March the same year but authorities blocked and detained him at JKIA before he reportedly drugged and expatriated to Dubai.

On March 2019, Justice George Odinga found Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and other immigration officers in contempt of court and fined them Sh200,000 each.

Justice Chacha Mwita also awarded Miguna Sh7 million in damages and Sh270,000 for the damage of his house.

Willy Mutunga wants the government to obey all the court orders on Miguna’s case, including the prompt payment of all awards, costs and accruing interest.