Kenya returns gold, Sh15m seized at JKIA to Tanzania

President Kenyatta and his Tanzanian counterpart John Pombe Magufuli on July 6, 2019 in Tanzania. It during that meeting that the deal to return the stash was agreed. [File]

Top Kenyan government officials Wednesday flew to Tanzania with 35.3 kilos of gold worth about Sh168 million and handed it to President Pombe Magufuli.

The officials also handed over Sh15 million that was recovered from a suspect who was arrested with the gold at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in February 2018.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monicah Juma, Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji, Attorney General Paul Kihara, Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti and the director of Asset Recovery Agency flew with the cargo to Dar-es-Salam where they handed it to Magufuli and his team.

The money and the gold were stolen on May 21, 2004 from Tanzania’s NBC bank in Moshi, in denominations of US Dollars, Kenyan shillings and Tanzanian shillings.

A total of USD77,500, Sh171,600,000 and Tsh170,000,000 was stolen from the bank, as staffers were locked up in a safe.

A prime suspect Patrick Ayisi Ngoi was arrested in Kenya with the stash, and was repatriated to Tanzania for prosecution in January this year, officials said.

Ms Juma said the visit followed a meeting between the two presidents.

“We are here to fulfil deliberations between you and President Kenyatta. If we work together, we succeed. If we work together, we get a chance to expand our economy, peace and living a better life,” said MJuma.

The exercise was witnessed by Magufuli, minister for foreign affairs and east African Community Prof John Aidan Mwaluko and Tanzania’s Director of Public Prosecutions Bswalo Mganga.

Magufuli faulted Tanzanian security apparatus for neglecting duty and allowing the stolen goods to be transported out of the country.

“The goods were transported from Mwanza. There are many questions to ask, when the goods were being transported, where were Tanzanian security apparatus,” said Magufuli.

Magufuli said that he would write an official letter to hail Kenya’s security apparatus for the good job.

He also promised that he would reward the Kenya security personnel who arrested the suspects before they exported the gold to Dubai.

Magufuli called President Kenyatta while addressing the delegation to thank him for helping return the gold.