Mwau wants name cleared over drug trafficking claims

A former Assistant Minister wants his name cleared over drug trafficking claims made by a report sponsored by a Non Governmental Organisation.

Mr Harun Mwau on Tuesday urged the court to clear his name adversely mentioned in a report by Mr Peter Gastrow and the Africa Centre for Governance (Africog).

“In his work 'Termites at Work’, Mr Gastrow alleges that I am involved in drug trafficking and other criminal activities,” Mr Mwau posed.

According to him, Africog has continued to promote, distribute and display the book 'Termites at Work” portraying him as a criminal locally and internationally.

He contends that the book alleges that approximately 1.14 tonnes of cocaine were seized at Pepe container Depot in 2004 which is owned by the former legislator.

The former lawmaker said that depicting him as a drug trafficker and a criminal is torturous inhumane and a degrading treatment.

He is therefore seeking that the report by Gastrow avails all the names and data of the people interviewed and a declaration made that he is not a drug trafficker.

He claimed that the allegations made by Gastrow and Africog were untruthful and misleading and that they have lowered his dignity and respect in the society.

“Surprisingly it has come to my attention that the offence was investigated by various local and international bodies such the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the British High Commission and the United States of America,” Mr Mwau said.

On the other hand, Mr Mbugua Mureithi representing Mr Gastrow said that the freedom of international research is protected.

“There was no particular reason to single out the petitioner, Mr Mwau. There was no reason to finish him politically,” Mr Mureithi said.

He claimed that the former Kilome MP has never challenged the credibility of the source of the information.

“The petitioner has a right to have information corrected. He did not seek the correction of that information he alleges discredited him,” the lawyer held.

Mr Nderitu Macharia representing Africog said that on February 17 2011 the said report was discussed in parliament where Mr Mwau was a member.

“It was an interim report. Investigations were not yet completed. The roles played by Africog were basically administrative,” Mr Macharia stated.

Lawyer Nchogu Omwanza for Mr Mwau said any academic work requires a higher standard of credibility.

“My client is entitled to the correction and deletion of the untrue and misleading information disseminated by the report,” Mr Omwanza said.

Justice Mumbi Ngugi will make a ruling on the matter on May 9, 2014.