NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 22 – Internal Security Minister George Saitoti has named members of Parliament who are suspected of involvement in drug trafficking.
Professor Saitoti sensationally revealed to a charged House that MPs Gidion Mbuvi (Makadara), Hassan Joho (Kisauni), Assistant Minister Harun Mwau (Kilome) and William Kabogo (Juja) were under investigation by the police over the narcotics trade.
He also said Mombasa businessman Ali Punjani was under the police spotlight.
The Minister was responding to a personal statement by the Makadara MP who had accused senior police officers of harassing and threatening him at his Continental House parliamentary office.
Juja MP William Kabogo later tabled a dossier containing names of alleged drug barons, reportedly authored by US ambassador Michael Ranneberger. Mr Kabogo said Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa and Kamukunji’s Simon Mbugua had been named in the dossier.
Mr Wamalwa objected to the dossier, terming it a smear campaign that was aimed at tarnishing his 2012 presidential ambitions. Speaker Kenneth Marende however ruled that he would first need to authenticate Mr Kabogo’s documents before allowing them in the House.
Mr Joho, on his part, protested being named in the House in connection with the ongoing probe and asked the Speaker to direct that his name be expunged from the records of Parliament until the investigations are completed.
The Kisauni MP said that he was ready to cooperate with police investigations into the matter and sought assurance that those linking him to the trafficking ring should also be prosecuted.
Prof Saitoti said that those found maligning others will face the law as they will be deemed to be obstructing investigations.
At the same time, Prime Minister Raila Odinga has told Parliament that he has formed a task force on the issue.
Mr Odinga said that the he had received the report from the US envoy and appealed to the House to give him two months to conclude investigations into the matter.
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