Nasa leaders addressing the media after being denied access to JKIA on November 16, 2017. [Photo/WanjikuRevolt]
Lawyer Apollo Mboya says the move to block National Super Alliance (Nasa) supporters from welcoming Raila Odinga at the JKIA is political.
Mboya said the airport is not a restricted area, and people should be allowed to welcome their leader.
Raila is expected to arrive in Nairobi at 11am from the US, where he has been for 10 days.
“The airport's arrivals lounge is not a restricted area but a public place. The only restricted place at the airport is beyond Immigration when you are traveling. There is no law barring anyone from being welcomed at the airport,” Mboya said in an opinion piece published in The Star.
The lawyer said the government was trying to intimidate Nasa leaders and supporters.
“We have often seen the government arrest NASA- leaning politicians but it has not arrested Kandara MP Alice Wahome, despite clearly being caught committing an electoral offense during the October 26 repeat Presidential election. Wahome was caught assaulting an electoral official, but have we seen the government go full blast on her? There is no law NASA has broken in its push for electoral justice. Everything they are doing is constitutional,” said Mboya.
On Thursday, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Ruaraka’s TJ Kajwang, and politician Steve Mbogo were arrested for not wearing helmets while on motorbikes.
The three opposition leaders had gone to the JKIA to address the media a day before Raila’s arrival.