Friday, December 24, 2010

Minister steps aside over drug trafficking link


Trade assistant minister Harun Mwau has stepped aside after being linked to the ongoing probe on illicit drugs trade December 24, 2010. FREDRICK ONYANGO
Trade assistant minister Harun Mwau has stepped aside after being linked to the ongoing probe on illicit drugs trade December 24, 2010. FREDRICK ONYANGO 
By ANTHONY KARIUKIPosted Friday, December 24 2010 at 12:48

Trade assistant minister Harun Mwau has stepped aside after being linked to the ongoing probe on illicit drugs trade.
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The Kilome MP wrote to Prime Minister Raila Odinga Friday asking to temporarily leave government pending investigations into the narcotics trade.
"Prime Minister Raila Odinga, acting in consultation with President Mwai Kibaki, early today (Friday) asked Hon John Harun Mwau to step down as Assistant Minister for Trade until investigations into allegations that he is one of those involved in drug trafficking are completed," said a statement form Mr Odinga's office.
"The PM acknowledged Mwau's wish to step down and until his name is cleared and, after consultations with the President, asked Hon Mwau to do so, stating that it was the shared feeling between the President and the Prime Minister."
He was among four MPs named in Parliament by Internal Security minister George Saitoti on Wednesday as being investigated in connection with their alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
Others were: Gidion Mbuvi (Makadara), William Kabogo (Juja) and Ali Hassan Joho (Kisauni).
In the House, Prof Saitoti also indicated that businessman Ali Punjani was also being probed.
Their names are among those contained in a dossier from the American Embassy to the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission a month ago, it was revealed.
Mr Kabogo tabled other documents before the House claiming they contained names of suspects which include Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua and a wife to "very senior person in the country".
On Thursday, three MPs denied they were involved in the trade.
Mr Wamalwa and Mr Mbugua said they were not among MPs who were being investigated for possible links to the kings of drug trafficking.
They spoke at separate press conferences, as Kisauni MP Hassan Joho accused US ambassador Michael Ranneberger of being driven by political intentions.
Speaking at Serena Hotel, Nairobi, Mr Wamalwa stated that he had led a straight life and read political sabotage in the declaration by Mr Kabogo that he was in the dossier submitted by the US envoy to the government.
“I have maintained a clean record of my life and my record is open to everybody. I have never associated myself with drug traffickers and I have never involved myself in the illegal trade that has rendered Kenyan youths zombies,” he said.
Speaking separately, Mr Mbugua said he had never dealt in drugs “nor even smoked cigarettes".
“I have been tormented by the sensational allegations by Mr Kabogo tabled in Parliament on Wednesday.
“Why would Kabogo implicate us in drug dealings? I have never seen drugs myself. I don’t drink, smoke, chew miraa or womanise,” he said.

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