Report links police to major drug networks

ByMartin Mutua

Dangerous drug cartels have operated in the country with full knowledge of the police and senior government officials.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga acknowledged the gravity of the problem in Parliament and the names of known drug barons had been passed over to Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACCA) officials.

Raila recalled that officers from the Administration Police (AP) unit and regular police had in the past killed each after drug traffickers infiltrated law enforcement organs.

Raila was responding to a shocking dossier released by Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara on drug cartels in Kenya. Raila said the Government had asked US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger to share the names of drug traffickers black listed by the his government last week.

Ranneberger announced that four senior Government officials and a businessman were among Kenyans banned from travelling to the US.

"Their names were presented to KACC (Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission) and not the Government, but as soon as I get them from Ranneberger, I will lay them in the House," said Raila.

Independent sources said among those listed by the US were an assistant minister, an MP and a Mombasa-based businessman who hobnobs with very senior officials in the PNU-ODM Coalition Government.

Parliament was stunned into silence when Imanyara unleashed a dossier surrounding the drug trafficking cartels that have, among other things penetrated the security systems in the country. An attentive House, including ministers, listened and gazed in shock and disbelief, as they listened to Imanyara.

And on the spot was former Commissioner of Police Major General (rtd) Hussein Ali, who Imanyara categorically stated had stopped investigations that were being carried out by a Senior Superintendent of Police Mohammed Jarissa Godana on the dangerous narcotics trade at the Coast.

Imanyara produced photographs of containers he said contained cocaine that were being investigated by Godana before he was dismissed on July 11. 2005.

The MP said Godana had some time last year gone to him for assistance, accompanied by some journalists and police officers.

"The officer said he had been forced to go into hiding after he came across six containers that were labelled as carrying Vietnamese rice, although in real sense they were packaged with cocaine," said Imanyara.

The legislator noted that Godana’s investigations into the narcotics world led to his dismissal, as he had managed to stumble on two senior police officers involved in the trade.

"He was ordered to stop the investigations by Commissioner Ali and ordered to go to some remote location of this country on transfer," he added. However, Imanyara said Godana was advised not to take up the transfer to Lokitaung in Turkana, because if he moved there he would be executed.

Instead, Godana is said to have gone to KACC where he delivered his dossier to the Director.

Custom agent

Imanyara, while giving a chronology of events, said on December 10, 2004 the KRA officials at the port of Mombasa authorised a company known as Jamamu International, through custom agent Westwing Kenya Ltd, to offload 3000 bags of alleged Vietnamese rice, which in essence was cocaine.

He said the companies brought in 24 containers of hard drugs, and that in the dossier he tabled, there were details of the vehicles with their registration numbers of vehicles that hauled the drugs from the port, including officers who were on duty.

Imanyara shocked the House further when he disclosed that there was an attempt by a group of people to grab the dossier from Godana when he brought it to him on Wednesday morning, but the attempts were thwarted by Godana and his (Imanyara’s) security personnel.

"Mr Speaker, one of the people who was in the group that attempted to grab the file shouted that I would go the same way Abdullahi Abubakar went," he added.

Imanyara further said when he asked Godana who Abubakar was, he informed him it was the District Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO) Port police who was allegedly shot dead, also while investigating another 50 containers that were said to contain narcotics.

Imanyara wanted the Prime Minister to assure the House that the SSP Godana, who is currently in hiding, will be guaranteed his security and safety, and also be returned to the police force.

Imanyara also wanted the House be told by the PM who had ordered commissioner Ali to send the former CID deputy Director Peter Kavila to stop the investigations.

The MP also sought an assurance from Raila that he will keep the House updated on the matter and on the people involved in the trade.

Imanyara further revealed that Godana had to KACC also passed all the letters, which he tabled in the House. The MP, however, lamented that officials at KACC concerned with narcotics investigations never carried out any investigations.

"When Godana recently confronted KACC director PLO Lumumba, it was discovered that none of the letters were in the files at the agency," said Imanyara.

He demanded action be taken against former KACC director Justice (Rtd) Aaron Ringera and his then Deputy Dr John Mutonyi for inaction. Raila described the developments as similar to a James Bond novel or movie.

The PM said what Imanyara had detailed was exactly how the drug cartels had operated for many years, a trend that started long time ago during the former regimes.

Former regime

"We are dealing with problem started by former regimes and some are deep in the security of the country, and SSP Godana’s fate has befallen other officers in the force," said Raila

Nominated MP Shakila Abdallah sought to know from the PM what he was doing to stop the drug dealers who were being protected by the Government. Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo also said given the extent of the damage are causing to young people, the government should declare it a national disaster for it to be dealt with decisively.

Garsen MP Danson Mungatana demanded the House be told the names of the five senior governments officials that US envoy Michael Ranneberger had presented to the KACC, saying Kenyans had a right to information as stipulated in the new Constitution, Section 35.

Raila said if released to the public, the information would lead to the suspects disappearing, thus harming investigations. He said he had given instructions to Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojode, who was in the House, to direct Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere to offer full protection to Godana and his family.

He said since Godana had bravely spoken out, he believed there were many others who will now come out, adding that those with such information can deliver it to his office, where he has set up a special desk.

The PM promised that the police anti narcotics unit would be reformed in line with the current police reforms, after Bura MP Dr Abdi Nuh called for its disbandment, saying it was doing nothing.