NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 9 – Washington started expressing its reservations about Kenya’s commitment to fight drugs long ago, it emerged on Thursday.
According to secret cables from former US Ambassador William Bellamy that were released by whistleblower website WikiLeaks, the Kenyan government most of its officials are protecting drug lords and cartels in the country.
“The lackluster performance of legal and law enforcement authorities in the cases, the increasingly whispered fear that national politicos are providing protection for the ring, sharply undermine post\’s confidence that Kenyan authorities are serious about combating international narcotics trafficking,” the January 9, 2006 cable revealed.
It cited the December 2004 seizure of Sh6.4 billion worth of Cocaine and blamed top government officials of a well orchestrated plot to cover up its investigations.
He said Kenya had not yet announced how or when it was going to destroy the Cocaine an indication that it was not serious on stopping drug trafficking common at the Coast and Nairobi.
The secret cable sent from Nairobi to Washington said the Kenyan government was even reluctant to invite foreign experts to help in its investigations.
Mr Bellamy concluded in his briefing that Kenya cannot fight the narcotic trade unless there is well coordinated pressure from the US and its diplomatic allies.
“It is clear that only a combination of public and private pressure, well coordinated with our diplomatic allies, will move this government to even attempt to kick its increasingly dangerous drug habit,” Mr Bellamy reported.
He further said lack of action by the relevant authorities was an indication that high-ranking government or police officers were either protecting those involved or were themselves culprits of drug trafficking.
Mr Bellamy revealed that those investigating the drug saga said they were being frustrated by high level individuals making it hard for their investigations and prosecutions to continue,
“XXXXXXXXXXXX expressed a high level of frustration with the poor handling of the investigation and prosecution by the Kenya Police Service and the Department of Public Prosecutions.”
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