Air France airline on Wednesday morning broke its silence on why it denied embattled advocate of the High Court Miguna Miguna an opportunity to board its plane to Kenya.
In its message, the airline informed the beleaguered lawyer that they acted about a directive given by the Kenyan authorities which in all appearances deemed Miguna a persona non grata only in Kenya but the whole of Africa.
Air France defended itself saying the action was in line with the international standards requiring them not to carry anyone to any country that he or she is denied access.
“Dear Mr Miguna, we confirm that at the request of the Kenyan authorities, we were obliged to deny boarding. Like all airlines, Air France is required to comply with the entry requirements for the countries it serves.
“And as such is not authorized to knowingly board passengers for a destination to which they are denied access. By doing so, Air France is simply complying with the international rules governing air transport, which it is required to respect…” replied the airline to Miguna.
The airline also stated that it was the passenger’s responsibility to ensure that he was cleared and allowed entry to his destination.
Miguna had scheduled his return on Wednesday 9:30 but his journey was halted after Lufthansa airline declined to fly him on the ground that Kenya had imposed a red alert on him.
The red alert barred the Lawyer from flying to any country in Africa and if any airline would have violated the directive it would be denied landing rights.
The lawyer remained stranded at Frankfurt airport in Germany as Lufthansa airline demanded an official communication from the Kenyan authorities before clearing Miguna to fly.
The lawyer, however, revealed on Tuesday night around 8:30 pm that he had boarded a plane and was on his way to Kenya.
However, hours later, the Lawyer revealed that he was kicked out of the plane.
Air France removed me from Flight AF0814 from Charles De Gaulle Airport to JKIA, which was about to take off. Despot Uhuru Kenyatta and Conman Raila Odinga are so afraid, cowardly, tyrannical and weak that they have sent RED ALERTS to all airlines. We shall never surrender! pic.twitter.com/SRdOZqlvxR
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) January 7, 2020
The government through its spokesperson Silas Oguna had on Tuesday pledged to sort out the issues and allow the self-proclaimed leader of the outlawed National Resistance Movement (NRM) from getting into the country.
Miguna was forcefully flown out of the country in March 2018 after the government said the lawyer was not a Kenyan citizen.
Despite successfully fighting for his rights in the corridors of justice several court orders were ignored by the government.