Prime Minister Raila Odinga's former aide Miguna Miguna yesterday denied he had fled the country and said he had gone to Canada on a "pre-arranged summer holiday" with his family.

Miguna said he would return to Kenya on August 18 after his holiday and a publicity tour for his book Peeling Back the Mask. On Monday Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko instructed police to record a statement from Miguna over his claims that he has evidence implicating Raila and other leaders in the 2008 post election violence. Miguna flew out of Kenya at 10.30pm on Monday night.

Miguna said he had not been served with any legal notices by the time he left Kenya. "A lawsuit isn't something I run away from. Nor would I be scared of an incompetent, misguided and delusional political announcement to the media by the director of public prosecutions that I should record a statement with the Kenya Police," said Miguna.

He condemned the burning of his effigy in Nyando on Tuesday and questioned why the PM failed to restrain his "fanatics". "False allegations are being dredged up in a desperate but futile attempt to bolster the ambitions and campaigns of a man whose quest for power has reached a dead end. But rather than conduct a searing self-evaluation, they want to hurl all the blame on me," he said. "I will not be intimidated, threatened or shouted into silence by con-men, busy-bodies, hangers-on and political groupies. The struggle against impunity will and must continue," he said.

Yesterday his former colleagues claimed that he was difficult to work with at the PM's office. At one point Miguna drew a sketch of how he wanted his office fitted out at the PM's building along Harambee Avenue. He wanted to move out of the NHIF Building in Upper Hill area where an office had been secured for him. In his letter dated September 15, 2010, Miguna told the director of administration that he wanted to take over the space previously used by the Panel of Experts on the third floor of the PM's building.

He said his office should have adequate space with a water dispenser, fridge, and its own toilet, sink and shower. "The entire office space (my office, reception, bathroom and waiting area) should be tiled, not carpeted," Miguna instructed in his letter. He also demanded air conditioning, cable TV, internet, fax and telephone lines for his office and reception. "I need both a general and direct telephone lines, with extensions to the Prime Minister, PS, Private Secretary, Security, advisors, specialists, HR, administration, transport and procurement departments," he added.

Miguna further said that he would prefer to have a small board room for meeting staff and visitors since he was responsible for the constitution implementation at the PM's office. He issued a memo on June 9, 2009 with 11 rules for his personal assistant, secretaries, driver, security detail and messenger. The staff were advised to always "use common sense" and strictly follow the 8 am to 5 pm working hours rule or any other times he directed.

"The security and driver are required to work at all times based on my working hours and in accordance with strict instructions from me," Miguna wrote. "You are not authorized to discuss with anyone anything that you read, see or hear relating to my work in this office unless you are authorized by me to do so. Please remember that the Code of Official Secrecy governs your work," he instructed. "You are not permitted to act on any contrary instruction other than mine. The only person who can instruct or direct you contrary to me while working at this office is the Prime Minister," stated Miguna's rule number three.

Miguna also did not want his salary to be deducted for the Higher Education Loans Board and demanded a court order authorizing the deductions by the PM's office. Miguna said though he had been furnished with a letter from HELB secretary requesting the PM's office to effect the deductions, the remittance was irregular as he did not owe HELB any money. "That letter does not refer to a specific loan contract, number, date or amount. There is no reference to any court order authorizing deductions from my account," he said in a letter dated August 1, 2010 and addressed to Permanent Secretary at the PM's office Dr Mohammed Isahakia.

Meanwhile the National Cohesion and Integration Commission has said it is studying the contents of Miguna's book. "I raised that issue about Miguna's book with the commission and the staff has been instructed to look into the book. This is in anticipation of complaints that may arise," said Commissioner Yassin Ahmed in Mombasa. Miguna was suspended in August 2011 for alleged "gross misconduct". He was reinstated four months later but refused to take up his job at the PM's office.