Police hold pilot over Sh39 billion arms deal

Former Sports CS Rashid Echesa in court over Sh39 billion arms deal.

A local airline pilot has been arrested by the police in connection with the Sh39 billion fake arms deal.

Subow Mohammed was picked up yesterday morning at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, as he returned from India where he had travelled for work.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had instructed Immigration officials to hold the pilot and hand him over to the DCI Serious Crimes investigators for questioning.

Mohammed was reportedly part of a three man team that traveled to Poland to facilitate purchase of weapons that were to be used by the KDF.

“On the strength of a stop order issued by DCI headquarters’ investigations bureau, detectives based at JKIA have arrested Subow Mohamed Ahmed,” DCI posted on its Twitter handle.

Yesterday, sources said the pilot was questioned over the alleged trip to Poland and his relationship with the late Sergeant Kipyegon Kenei.

The arrest comes as the DCI continues to dig for information on the murder of Kenei who was captured by CCTV cameras walking to the offices of Deputy President William Ruto together with some of the suspects.

Former Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has since been charged in court over the deal. Echesa was charged alongside Daniel Otieno, Clifford Okoth and Kennedy Oyoo.

The three denied charges of conspiring to commit a felony, making a document without authority, obtaining money by pretence, attempting to commit a felony and uttering a false document.

Further, iInvestigations into Kenei’s murder have split the DCI team. So bad is the rift between investigators that a senior forensic examiner at the DCI headquarters, Kiambu road, has been kicked out of the probe.

Stopped the transfer

More trouble seems to have followed the top forensic cop who has been threatened with a transfer.

The fate of the officer, now hangs in the balance after Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai reportedly stopped the transfer.

The forensic examiner was among the senior officers who visited Kenei’s home when he was found dead on February 20.

DCI boss George Kinoti who was on official duty in Mombasa flew back the same evening and proceeded straight to the Twiga court in Imara Daima where Kenei’s body was found.

It is at this point that the forensic investigator is said to have first clashed with the DCI over the matter.