Government has explained why NASA’s James Orengo and businessman Jimmy Wanjigi were barred from travelling to Zimbabwe on Monday night.
Director of Immigration Gordon Kihalangwa said the duo was stopped from leaving the country for Harare because an order suspending their passports was still in effect.
Orengo and Wanjigi were to accompany NASA chief Raila Odinga to the burial of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
“The said orders had not been served by the time the duo wanted to travel. After arriving at the JKIA, they were requested to avail the copies of the said court order but they had none,” said Kihalangwa on Tuesday in a statement according to the Star.
He added that the duo showed immigration officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport some writings on their phones purporting to be court orders.
“The two could, therefore, not be allowed to proceed with their journey until copies of the said orders were availed,” added the Immigration boss.
Justice John Mativo on Monday had revoked the suspension order by Immigration department for the duo together with five other NASA allied politicians.
However, the orders were not served to the department which Kihalangwa noted that they will always obey.
“They will be allowed to travel to travel once such orders are served to the department.”
Raila’s adviser Salim Lone said the court orders had been served to JKIA’s immigration officials.
“A court order was immediately served on the airport immigration office for the return of their passports, but the officers refused to carry out the court order and the passports were not returned,” Lone noted.