Miguna Miguna

Miguna Miguna
Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister on Coalition Affairs
In office
6 March 2009 – 4 August 2011
Prime Minister Raila Odinga
Personal details
Born Magina, Kisumu District
Nationality Kenyan
Political party ODM (2007–2012)
Alma mater University of Toronto (BA)
Osgoode, York Uni. (JD), (LL.M)
Profession Lawyer
Notable work(s) Peeling Back The Mask
Kidneys for the King

Miguna Miguna (born in Kisumu District) is a Kenyan author and columnist. He is also a barrister and solicitor in Canada, and an advocate of the High Court of Kenya. Miguna served as a senior adviser to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga from 2009 to 2011.[1][2]

Early life and career

Miguna was born in Magina village. In 1963, whilst serving as a student leader at the University of Nairobi, he was detained by the Moi regime for his political activism. Upon his release, he fled to neighbouring Tanzania on foot and briefly stayed in Swaziland. He was granted political asylum in Canada where he continued to pursue his higher education. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in political science and philosophy from the University of Toronto in 1990 and thereafter read law at Osgoode Hall Law School. He was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1995 and the Kenyan Bar in 2008.[3][4]

He articled at Charles Roach's firm in Toronto before practising on his own until 2007 when he returned to his homeland.[4]

Political career

Upon his return, he contested in the primaries of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)'s nomination for Nyando Constituency but lost to Frederick Outa Otieno.[5] He was part of the ODM's campaign team during the 2007 general election. In March 2009, he was appointed as Prime Minister Raila Odinga's senior adviser on coalition affairs[4] and concurrently served alongside Kivutha Kibwana as the Joint-secretary to the Permanent Committee on the Management of the Grand Coalition. In August 2011, he was accused of gross misconduct and was thereby suspended without pay.[6] The suspension was lifted on 29 December but Miguna declined his reinstatement.[7][8]

River Nyando

On 14 July 2012, he launched his first memoir titled Peeling Back the Mask: A Quest for Justice in Kenya.[9][10] The book was virulently critical of Raila Odinga and purported to his expose him as a charlatan . It sparked protests from Odinga's supporters in Ahero who burned Miguna's effigy and mock coffin; and thereafter sprinkling its ashes into River Nyando.[11] He was attacked whilst promoting his book at a hotel in Mombasa and had to be rescued by the police.[12][13]

In September 2012, he resigned from ODM as a life member and announced his candidacy for Governor of Nairobi County in the 2013 gubernatorial election as an independent candidate.[14] He later on cancelled his candidacy.[15] He launched his second memoir in February 2013 titled Kidneys for the King: Deforming the Status Quo in Kenya.[16] which heaps even more scorn on Raila, cataloguing a series of misdeeds allegedly committed by Raila. Raila on his part has declined to answer to the claims made in Miguna's books or even to sue for defamation in the belief that this would deny the limelight Miguna is seeking. Raila is widely viewed in Kenya as a leading proponent of political reforms, an image which could be badly sullied if Miguna's claims as made in his books prove to be true. In an act of rejection of his former political boss, Miguna endorsed Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila's rival, in the 2013 presidential election Uhuru went on to win the poll albeit amid claims of poll fraud by Raila.[17]

Controversies

In 2010, some members from the PNU side of the coalition accused him of holding both Canadian and Kenyan passports as the law didn't permit dual citizenship at the time. Miguna responded that he was a Kenyan citizen by birth and that he had never renounced his citizenship.[18]

TV talk show spat

Miguna earned unflattering spotlight when in a KTN TV talk show hosted by Jeff Koinange, he made misogynistic remarks against Esther Passaris, a fellow guest appearing on the show. The two who had declared interest in the Nairobi gubernatorial seat slated for the upcoming 2017 General Elections were on the show to debate and canvass votes from Nairobi voters. Miguna's remarks ignited uproar, prompting a demand from women, including Gender Cabinet Secretary and FIDA for an apology. Host Koinange was pilloried for failing to restrain Miguna as he went on the attack against Passaris. Koinange later apologized and announced the end of his popular show on KTN. Miguna however claimed his rights were violated by the station, who allowed a video with the offending content to circulate on social media. He said the video was edited and threatened to sue.

Personal life

He is a member of the Luo community.

Works

References

  1. ↑ McKiernan, Michael (25 July 2012). "Miguna causing stir in native Kenya". canadianlawyermag.com. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  2. ↑ Murua, James (16 July 2012). "Miguna Miguna peels back the mask". The Star (Kenya). Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "Miguna's book on Raila to be launched in Kenya". The Standard (Kenya). 28 June 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Gray, Jeff (27 July 2012). "Ex-Toronto lawyer takes on Kenya's PM". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Bonnie, Jim (25 February 2014). "What Miguna Miguna won't tell you in his War on Raila". kenya-today.com. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Namunane, Bernard (4 August 2011). "Raila kicks out key aide". Daily Nation. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Miguna back as PM Odinga's advisor". Daily Nation. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  8. ↑ Leftie, Peter (31 December 2011). "Miguna declines job recall". Daily Nation. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  9. ↑ Oloo, Onyango (13 July 2012). "BOOK REVIEW: Peeling Back the Mask: A Quest for Justice". Daily Nation. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  10. ↑ Mwangi, Paul (26 July 2012). "Raila says he will not sue Miguna over book". Daily Nation. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  11. ↑ Anyuor, Nicholas (18 July 2012). "Villagers burn Miguna's effigy". The Standard (Kenya). Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  12. ↑ "Miguna Roughed Up in Mombasa". Citizen TV. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "Mombasa Youth Attack Miguna Miguna". Citizen TV. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  14. ↑ Miguna, Miguna (21 September 2012). "Miguna's 10-point promise as Nairobi Governor". capitalfm.co.ke. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  15. ↑ Sige, Julius (16 February 2013). "Miguna launches new book on Saturday Governor". Daily Nation. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  16. ↑ Ndonga, Wambui (16 February 2013). "Miguna unveils new book with more attacks on Raila". capitalfm.co.ke. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  17. ↑ Wekesa, Chrispinus (18 February 2013). "Miguna endorses Uhuru at book launch, predicts defeat for Raila". The Star (Kenya). Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  18. ↑ "Raila adviser denies being a foreigner". Daily Nation. 11 January 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
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