SAITOTI NAMES DRUG LORDS

Four MPs and a businessman have been named as the high profile Kenyans whose alleged involvement in narcotics trade was under probe following a secret US dossier. Trade Assistant Minister Harun Mwau, Kisauni MP Hassan Joho, Makadara MP Gidion ‘Sonko’ Mbuvi, and Juja MP William Kabogo were named as the MPs who are being investigated over links to drug trafficking. Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, who made the sensational announcement on the floor of Parliament yesterday, also said Mombasa businessman Ali Punjani was also being probed over trade in narcotics. Rising on a point of order, Kisauni MP Joho defended himself and demanded that his name be expunged from the list because investigations were incomplete. "I am saddened that the minister (Saitoti) can take this matter lightly and mention names in this House. I don’t need any favours. I don’t need to be assisted. I just want full force of [the] law to be applied even to myself," said Joho. He added: "I don’t even know how these things look like." In response, Saitoti, who looked bemused by Joho’s agitation, said under the law, those on the list should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. On Tuesday, Sonko had complained of police harassment and asked for protection, but yesterday Saitoti told Parliament the MP was complaining about investigators who are probing him over the alleged connection to drug trade. Punjani is remembered for making a personal contribution of Sh6 million at a fundraising organised by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, last year, for residents of Faza Island in the Lamu Archipelago whose houses were burnt. At the fundraising Joho also gave Sh1 million in cash, as his personal contribution.