Pakistani girls: CSs Matiang'i, Echesa risk Sh9.1 million fine
Some of the eight Pakistani girls, who were arrested in Nairobi, wait to leave for a safe house after a court session on January 4, 2019. PHOTO | RICHARD MUNGUTI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The belly dancers were arrested at Balle Balle Club in Parklands, Nairobi, on January 1.
- They were deported on January 4 for violating terms of their temporary passes that allowed them into Kenya, allegedly to promote transnational culture.
- Lawyer Evans Ondieki said the girls should be compensated as they were deported despite having valid visas and special passes that issued by the State.
The lawyer representing the eight Pakistani girls at the centre of a human trafficking probe wants two ministers ordered to pay them $90,000 (Sh9,171,900) for their irregular deportation.
The belly dancers were arrested at Balle Balle Club in Parklands, Nairobi, on January 1. They were deported on January 4 for violating terms of the temporary passes that allowed them into Kenya, allegedly to promote transnational culture.
"IMPUNITY"
In court on Tuesday, lawyer Evans Ondieki prayed for the order against ministers Fred Matiang'i (Interior) and Rashid Echesa (Sports, Culture and Heritage).
Mr Ondieki told Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot that the girls should be compensated as they were deported despite having valid visas and special passes that issued by the State.
Mr Ondieki and Dr John Khaminwa, for the National Conservative Forum, asked the magistrate to issue the order to "discourage impunity by State officers".
Immigration prosecutor James Machirah opposed their plea saying the girls were deported to prevent their psychological torture.
Mr Machirah further noted that the Tourism Regulatory Authority had not issued the girls with permits to perform in Kenya.
He added that the special visas allegedly issued by Mr Echesa were irregular.
Dr Khaminwa asked the court to direct Mr Machirah to file an affidavit detailing how the girls were evacuated from the safe house managed by Blue Heart International's Nadeem Khan.
The girls were taken to the safe house and later deported to India alongside Balle Balle owner Safendra Kunar Sonwani.
A ruling on the lawyer's plea will be issued at 2.30pm.
