Inside Migunas head-scratching interview with Jeff Koinange

Inside Migunas head-scratching interview with Jeff Koinange

Controversial politician Miguna Miguna’s Wednesday night interview on Citizen TV’s Jeff Koinange Live show was a tough one to put it mildly; and arguably a nightmare for a fainthearted journalist.

While some viewers enjoyed the show and were electrified by Miguna’s apparent bravado in the interview, others were dissatisfied and have accused the self-declared NRM general of being dramatic and evasive in his responses.

Miguna, however, disagrees that he failed to answer any questions.

“A polite reminder to some confused Kenyans: Saying “no” to a question is also an answer. If you believe a question is malicious, just say so. You will not die,” tweeted Miguna after being interviewed from Toronto, Canada.

The 21-minute Skype interview kicked off on a high with the interviewee scolding the host and dictating the topic the interview should focus on.

“Miguna, your lawyer Cliff Ombeta received a letter on your nomination by Governor Mike Sonko as deputy governor. Have you received that letter?” Koinange fired the first question only for Miguna to rebuff it.

“Jeff I am not here to talk about Cliff Ombeta or Governor Sonko. I am here to talk about how my rights have been violated by the regime in Nairobi,” replied Miguna.

Miguna would still not clearly answer the second question on whether he would return to the country. He instead embarked on a chronological recount of what transpired before he was forcefully ejected from the country.

When Koinange asked the third question – What are you doing to have yourself back to Kenya? – Miguna seized the moment to criticise the Kenyan media for what he termed as “glorification of tyranny” and blaming State agencies for his woes.

A back-and-forth would then ensue as Miguna insisted that he is a Kenyan citizen and had never lost his citizenship as claimed by the State.

When the lionhearted Koinange sought to stick out the grounds under which the State says Miguna lost his citizenship, the fiery lawyer dropped his gloves and took on the host bare knuckles.

“The problem with you is that you never went to law school, you’re not a judge or a lawyer,” Miguna fired. “Don’t interfere with me. Let me speak,” added Miguna as Koinange tried to interject.

Drama continued with Miguna embarking on a lengthy explanation of why the government does not want him in the country.

When Koinange sought to bring his mighty show to order, Miguna was not ready to be reduced to the ordinary calm interviewee.

“Jeff don’t argue with me let me answer. You are a journalist if you ask a question let me answer. You are suggesting that I help them win a case I already won in court. Is that rational?” Miguna posed when asked why he had declined to reapply for Kenyan citizenship as directed by the government.

Asked who are members of his self-styled National Resistance Movement (NRM), Miguna’s response was a bitter pill to swallow.

“Why do you want to know and you are not an NRM member. You have not asked who Jubilee members are,” said Miguna.

Koinange moved on to the next question: “If you were to come back, could you think about working with Sonko?”

“Jeff I will make announcements as to who I work with or who I don’t when I am back or when I would like to do that. Today that was not the purpose of this interview,” replied Miguna.

“But everyone wants to know,” pleaded Koinange.

Miguna responded: “ Everyone includes me. I don’t want to know what you are asking because it is not a question that Sonko or other people have asked me.”

Seemingly fed up with Miguna, Koinange asked the former Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant why he was not willing to talk about the Capital’s affairs. Miguna replied: “Jeff I will talk about Nairobi when I deem it fit. Not on compulsion from you.”

At the tail end of the interview, a light moment ensued as the take-no-prisoners Miguna finally cracked a smile saying: “Jeff I am a tough cookie, you can’t push me around.”

The interview came to an end on a near similar note as it began.

“Miguna you being outside the country means nothing because you are in the outside looking in. Don’t you think you should be in the inside,” asked Koinange.

“Jeff the problem with you is that you don’t know history,” Miguna fired as he explained how Fidel Castro and other political icons were and later returned to victory.

In the words of Jeff Koinange, “Wow, what a show, what a guest!”

Tags:

Mike Sonko Jeff Koinange cliff ombeta miguna miguna JKL

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