KENYAN national Robert Makutsa was supposed to be marrying his partner today at the Glasgow church where they met.

But yesterday, from an immigration removal centre in England, he was trying to ensure all guests had been told that the ceremony was off. The Scottish Government called his case “extremely concerning”.

The 31-year-old is currently being held in Colnbrook as his lawyer fights for his right to stay in the UK. The sound engineer has been in Scotland for eight years and was initially detained after the Home Office ruled he had stayed in the country longer than he was allowed.

However, he claims he was not informed that an application to remain had been unsuccessful until immigration officials arrested him.

A bail hearing is set for Tuesday, but today Robert faces a difficult 24 hours as he considers the wedding he has had to postpone.

His sisters – his only remaining family – were due to fly up from their homes in Bristol for the ceremony at Destiny Church in Glasgow city centre, with his young niece acting as flower girl. However, immigration officials cast doubt over whether the relationship was genuine because the couple do not share a home, a decision based on their religious beliefs, and yesterday he used his limited internet access at Colnbrook in an attempt to ensure all guests knew the date was off.

Robert told The National: “So many people had confirmed. I was trying to get in touch with my fiancee and see if everybody has been updated.

“I feel stressed, but my main stress is for her.”

The music lover, whose parents and two siblings in Kenya have died since he came to the UK, leaving him no family or home there, does not want to name his partner, a full-time student, because of the difficulties she is having in coping with the situation.

The UK citizen is currently working on final university work and, if he is deported to his country of origin, she will not meet the earnings requirements to bring him back.

Meanwhile, support for his case on a petition at the change.org website continues to grow, with friends in Glasgow, including fellow audio technicians, and strangers in Cardiff and Dubai amongst those adding names.

In one message, a supporter said: “So angry we even have to do this. The guy had a proper job, a fiancé and was doing fantastic in our society. Absolutely gutted.”

Another wrote: “Removing Robert is insanity. He has been here for a long time and built links and connections in the community in Glasgow and throughout Scotland. Sending him to a country he hasn’t lived in for a decade, where none of his relatives are alive, is cruel and unjust. He works, he has committed no crimes, please let him stay.”

He said: “I am really, really worried for my fiancee. Every day that passes here is very long for me.

“My message to everyone is I love them with all my heart. I have loved Scotland and it means the world to me to say Glasgow has been my home. I really can’t think of anywhere else to be. It means a lot to hear of the support from people.”

The Home Office says it does not comment on individual cases, but a spokesperson for the Scottish Government raised concerns, saying: “We are sympathetic to those who have difficulties navigating the complex and increasingly restrictive UK Immigration rules.

“The UK Government’s focus on arbitrarily reducing net migration irrespective of what value migrants might bring, what skills shortages they could address, or what contribution they could make to our economy and society, is wrong for Scotland and is harming our economic prospects.

“This government has long called for an immigration system that is fair and humane.

“And we believe that people with insecure immigration status should be treated with respect and dignity at all times.

“Any perceived breach of that is extremely concerning.”

To add your name to the petition, click here.