Kalonzo, Wetangula Were Not Detained at JKIA on Thursday Contrary to Raila's Claims, Says Immigration Director

Major Gen (Rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa, the Immigration Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declined claimed by National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga that NASA co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula were temporarily detained at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday morning and prevented from traveling to Uganda.

In a statement to the media, Kihalangwa said at no point were the two prevented from boarding their Entebbe-bound flight at JKIA, adding that Kalonzo called him to ask if they needed clearance prior to traveling, and that Kihalangwa informed him they did not. “I categorically told him [Kalonzo] no and he said it is okay. They finally departed at 1105hrs for Entebbe without any hitch,” Kihalangwa said.

Kihalangwa said Kalonzo and Wetangula boarded their flight to Entebbe on time after passing through the normal immigration process at the airport.

“The PA for Hon Kalonzo Musyoka, after settling him returned to do the usual immigration requirements of having the passports endorsed. As expected, the Immigration officers would check the systems, and they were checked accordingly,” Kihalangwa said in a statement to the press.

Raila Odinga has on Thursday claimed that the government had detained his co-principals, accusing state House of suing illegal maneuvers to intimidate the opposition.

“The attempts to prohibit opposition leaders from leaving the county and to control their movement through State House clearances are illegitimate manoeuvres by an increasingly paranoid regime,” said Raila in a press statement.

“The Kenyan Opposition must remain free as a legitimate part and parcel of the Kenyan political landscape and be allowed and enabled to pursue its mandate as an alternative government and voice of the people in line with the Constitution,” added Odinga.

The prupose of the trip is to attend a graduation ceremony at Uganda Technology and Management University, which Kalonzo will be presiding. He is the chancellor of the institution.