Iteere: Police to reveal Kenya drug lords

Prominent Kenyans suspected of drug trafficking have been placed on the police radar and could be revealed in a week, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere has said.

The revelations will, however, depend on whether the evidence gathered will be deemed sustainable in a court of law.

“We’ve names of personalities some of them very prominent. Let’s give them (investigators) a week or two,” said the police chief during a news conference at Vigilance House, Nairobi Wednesday.

At the same time, he announced that he had formed a high-level team of detectives to cover drug trafficking routes and bring the perpetrators to book.

“I have commissioned a team of officers to investigate all intelligence reports on illicit drugs trafficking syndicates including reports that the syndicates involve prominent personalities.

As directed by the President, I have directed the team to carry out comprehensive investigations within the shortest time possible and assemble evidence to identify and prosecute all the culprits regardless of their station in life,” said Mr Iteere.

Two weeks ago, US ambassador Michael Ranneberger announced that five senior government officials had been banned from travelling there due to their involvement in the illicit trade.

Last week, Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara tabled documents in Parliament, which detailed how a police officer who had uncovered the activities of drug cartels at the Coast was sacked from the force.

The report accused former anti-corruption boss Aaron Ringera, former Police boss Major-General (Rtd) Hussein Ali and the director of Police Training College Peter Kavila of frustrating investigations into the matter. Both have denied the accusations, with Mr Ringera threatening to sue the media for defamation.

On Monday, President Kibaki directed that the anti-drugs police unit be immediately restructured and asked that investigations be opened on all people engaged in narcotics regardless of their status.