Ringera denies role in drugs fight

The former director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Justice (Rtd) Aaron Ringera has refuted reports that alleged that he blocked and frustrated an investigation into drug trafficking in Kenya.

Mr Ringera denied the reports that were based on documents tabled in Parliament on Wednesday by Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara and threatened legal redress over the matter.

He said Mr Imanyara did not make any statement accusing him of blocking or frustrating the investigation into drug cartels that operated in the country and he is suing the concerned media houses for defamation.

“I have read the Hansard and nowhere does the MP say I blocked an investigation or frustrated the same,” he told journalists at his private offices in Lavington Friday.

“The said allegations are manifestly false, malicious and defamatory. I will seek legal redress in respect of them” he added.

On Wednesday, Mr Imanyara accused him in Parliament for failing to take any action when SSP Mohamed Godan Jarssa reported a drug trafficking syndicate to him.

SSP Jarissa is said to have reported to the commission when he discovered 24 containers of hard drugs disguised as imported rice from Vietnam as he conducted his investigations into drug cartels operating at the Mombasa Port.

In his defence, the Retired Judge admitted that SSP Jarssa wrote a letter to the commission but denied receipt saying “but it landed in the hands of his junior offices”, whom he said, “failed to take action”.

In the letter dated 13th January, 2006 , SSP Jarssa is also said to have complained about abuse of office by Police Commissioner Major (Rtd) General Hussein Ali.

Major (Rtd) Ali is said to have issued orders to the then director of Police Operations, Mr Kavila to sack the officer after unearthing the activities of drug cartels at the Coast.

The former Kacc director denied ever receiving the report from the officer.

“It is clear that Superintended Jarssa did not make ay report of narcotic trafficking to me personally. It is also clear that he did not lodge any complaint of abuse of office by the Police Commissioner with me personally,” he said.

He also denied ever receiving a letter from SSP Jarssa on 10th August, 2006 drawing his attention to non-action by senior officers of the commission to his complaint, as alleged by Mr Imanyara in Parliament.

“I want to state emphatically that I have never met superintended Jarissa...I never did see the letter of 10th August, 2006 purportedly addressed to me,” he said.

He blamed the junior officers, whom he did not name, for failing to take action but was very fast to exonerate them from blame saying he was not aware of their inaction.

He said he could have directed an investigation into the allegation made by the police officer if he could have received the report.

“How then, I ask, can I be accused of blocking or frustrating an investigation I was not aware of? That is to turn common sense on its head and defame me beyond repair.” he said.

He said he is in private business and he will sue the media for “tarnishing his reputation”.