NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 24 – Three MPs have denied recent allegations that they have been engaged in drug trafficking.
Saboti Member of Parliament Eugene Wamalwa maintained his innocence after a \’drug barons\’ dossier containing his name was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday by Internal Security Minister George Saitoti.
Mr Wamalwa who maintained that he had never been involved in the illicit trade instead accused his Juja counterpart William Kabogo, who tabled the report, of tarnishing his name ahead of the 2012 general elections.
Kabogo\’s report which also listed Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua was allegedly authored by the US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger.
"We have seen leaders using Parliament as a slaughter house where they ruin other people\’s reputations. But I have spoken to the American Ambassador and he has assured me that my name is not among those that he forwarded to the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission," claimed Mr Wamalwa.
The Juja MP tabled his dossier moments after Mr Saitoti revealed that his name was among four legislators and a businessman being investigated by police over their role in drug trafficking.
Others in Prof Saitoti\’s list included: Makadara MP Gideon Mbuvi, Kisauni MP Hassan Joho, Assistant Minister Harun Mwau (Kilome MP), and Mombasa entrepreneur Ali Punjani.
Prof Saitoti 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.
Last month, Amb Ranneberger announced that the US was conducting investigations into an international drug trafficking scandal involving five Kenyans. The five included four senior government officials and a prominent businessperson.
Although he declined to name the said individuals who were also slapped with travel bans, the American diplomat maintained that his government had credible implicating them in the illicit trade.
"Trafficking Narcotics to Kenya is a growing problem, but the five people that I mentioned are not the only people who are involved… those are the people we have detailed information (on) and we have also shared the information with the government," he had said then.
Mr Wamalwa further questioned the credibility of Kabogo\’s report saying it was baseless. He argued that it should not be used to pre-judge him until questions surrounding its authority were settled.
"Kabogo\’s list is not Ranneberger\’s list and it is not Saitoti\’s list. He talked about a dossier that is yet to be authenticated and one which the Speaker said we would be allowed to scrutinise after authentication," he argued.
The same sentiments were shared by Mr Mbugua who also, separately, accused Kabogo of playing dirty politics. He maintained that he had never been involved in narcotics trade: "I am a humble Kenyan who and I only depend on my salary."
Mr Joho, on his part, criticised the report by Prof Saitoti terming it malicious. He challenged those with any evidence implicating him in the trade to come forward as he was ready to defend himself in court.
"In fact I ask the State, what is it waiting for? Because if the report is so substantial what are waiting for? Take me to court tomorrow," he quipped.
The Saboti MP who was accompanied by former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga and political activist Tony Gachoka also announced that he and his counterparts would hold their Kamukunji rally on December 29.
Attempts to hold the rally at the same venue were last week foiled by police who dispersed crowds that had gathered at the grounds.
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