NAIROBI,Kenya, Aug 13 – Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has revealed the deported Turkish national Harun Aydin was a money laundering suspect.
According to Matiang’i,suspicion about Aydin was raised through regional mutual security pacts and partnerships.
He added the government will not apologise for deporting Aydin, who is said to be an associate of Deputy President William Ruto.
“We have not apologised. Why would we apologise for doing what we are supposed to do?” Matiang’i posed.
During an interview with Inooro FM,Ruto appeared to give contrary remarks to that of the government after he publicly apologized for how the Turkish national was treated and eventually deported from the country.
Matiang’i told Members of Parliament in the National security committee while in Mombasa on Friday they have documented interactions with known criminals regionally which further raised security concerns about Aydin’s activities.
“His passport shows two exists not supported by stamped entries raising serious security concerns on how he managed that,” he said.
Matiang’i said Aydin had been flagged by an intelligence organization in a neighbouring country.
The CS further revealed that despite Aydin claiming to come in as an investor in the energy sector, there is no evidence of his investments in the country.
“Personal information he gave regarding contacts and office location are fake and non-existent.” said Matiang’i
The Turkish national was scheduled to be arraigned locally but Turkish government requested he be deported in order to, “deal with him as per existing bilateral agreements.”
On August 9, Ruto said he had spoken and apologised to the deported Turkish businessman on behalf of the government.
He further termed the series of events leading to his deportation as a shame and that political pettiness was to blame.
“We are a government and a country run by law and order. We are members of so many security agencies. There is a way governments work with each other.”
Matiang’i said the Kenyan government is in constant communication with the Turkish government.
“… there was no need to apologise. We would apologise if there was a challenge. We haven’t apologised. He was a criminal some sort of strange guy masquerading as an investor,” he said.
“I would not apologise for anyone. Kenya will not and cannot apologise.”
Aydin, who was part of the team in Ruto’s failed trip to Uganda, was arrested by officers from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit and detained for questioning.
Reports have linked Aydin to terrorism activities, but the DP defended him as a polished investor whom he helped secure Sh15 billion from Equity Bank to set up a business in Uganda.
Ruto said Aydin is a victim of top-down arrogance.
“Turkish investor, Aydin Harun, is a victim of top-down arrogance bred by patronage and cartels that criminalise enterprise,” he said.
“Importers’ goods declared contraband, Africa spirits closed, Keroche harassed, now investor with valid papers labelled terrorist. Tragedy of political pettiness.”
Aydin was detained by immigration officials on landing in Nairobi from Uganda where he had been since August 2.
Officials said they wanted to question him in regard to his immigration status, work permit and the business he is involved in the region.
Want to send us a story? Contact Shahidi News Tel: +254115512797 (Mobile & WhatsApp)
