NASA leader Raila Odinga's adviser Salim Lone on Monday evening issued a statement after immigration officers blocked Siaya Senator James Orengo and businessman Jimi Wanjigi from leaving the country.
Below is Lone's statement:
"Immigration refusing court order to return seized Orengo, Wanjigi passports for Tsvangirai Zimbabwe funeral:
When People’s President Raila Odinga and his delegation travelling to the late Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s funeral in Harare arrived at the JKIA airport, Immigration officers confiscated the passports of Senator James Orengo and Jimi Wanjigi.
Mr Odinga and Kisumu Governor Prof Peter Anyang’ Anyong’o were not stopped.
A court order was immediately obtained for the return of the passports, and served on the airport immigration office, but the officers refused to carry out the court order and the passports were not returned, making them two NASA leaders miss the flight.
Mr Orengo and Mr Wanjigi are still at the airport trying to retrieve their unlawfully confiscated passports.
PS - Correction: Senator Orengo and Mr Wanjigi were not travelling on the same flight as Mr. Odinga, but on a later one when their passports were confiscated.
Salim Lone,
Adviser,
H.E. Raila Odinga,
People’s President,
Republic of Kenya"