Sources confirm that former Kenyan Minister John Michuki was denied entry into Uganda this morning at the Busia border post. The incident, which unfolded around 8:30 AM local time, saw Michuki turned away by Ugandan immigration officials without explanation. A senior Uganda Immigration officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told this correspondent: 'We received instructions from Kampala. No reason was given, but the order was clear. He was not to enter.'
Michuki, who served as Kenya's Minister for Internal Security and Provincial Administration from 2005 to 2007, has been under scrutiny over his role in the 2007 post-election violence. A 2008 UN report implicated him in orchestrating police brutality against opposition supporters. No charges have been filed in Kenya, but the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been monitoring the case.
The UK High Commission in Nairobi issued a brief statement this afternoon: 'The United Kingdom encourages all East African states to uphold the rule of law. We note the incident at the border and trust that due process will be followed.' The statement did not elaborate on whether the UK had any prior knowledge of the ban.
This development raises troubling questions. Was this a coordinated move by Kampala and Nairobi? Or a unilateral action by Uganda? Uncovered documents from the Kenyan Interior Ministry show that Michuki's travel documents were flagged last month. A memo dated 23 February, obtained by this newsroom, reads: 'Subject Michuki. Inform border points. Exercise caution.'
Michuki's lawyer, Paul Mwangi, told reporters at a crowded press conference that his client was 'shocked and dismayed' by the ban. 'This is a violation of the East African Community protocol on free movement. We are considering legal action,' Mwangi said.
The incident has sparked a diplomatic spat. The Kenyan Foreign Ministry summoned Uganda's High Commissioner to Nairobi for an explanation. A ministry source said the meeting was 'tense' and that Kenya demanded an immediate lifting of the ban.
Meanwhile, political analysts are drawing parallels to a similar incident in 2010 when a Ugandan opposition figure was denied entry into Kenya. 'This has all the hallmarks of a backroom deal,' said Dr. Alice Wanjira, a political scientist at the University of Nairobi. 'Someone is sending a message to Michuki. The question is who and why.'
As the day wore on, Michuki remained at his home in Nairobi's Karen suburb, surrounded by supporters and journalists. In a brief statement, he said: 'I am a law-abiding citizen. I have nothing to hide. This is a political witch hunt.'
The UK High Commission's intervention is unusual. Britain has traditionally avoided public commentary on internal East African affairs. But the statement suggests a growing concern over the region's commitment to legal norms. 'The UK is watching closely,' a diplomatic source in London told this correspondent. 'Any hint of extra-judicial action will have consequences.'
For now, Michuki is stranded. The border remains closed to him. And the rule of law in East Africa is looking increasingly fragile.
