This archive report was first published on 29 June 2019.
On June 28, 2019, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested Ngei Ward MCA Redson Otieno Onyango over allegations of drug trafficking. This arrest followed the confiscation of a consignment containing heroin at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, as reported on June 29, 2019.
The DCI announced the arrest in a Facebook post, stating that Otieno would be charged with the offence of Trafficking in narcotics. The incident occurred barely weeks after a former presidential hopeful, Jaffer Isaak Sora, was arrested on June 19, 2019, for transporting 445 kgs of bhang worth KSh 13.35 million.
Background ¶
Sora, from Marsabit county, was arrested at a roadblock along Isiolo-Moyale Road while transporting the bhang, which was believed to have been smuggled into the country from Ethiopia. The two incidents highlight the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in Kenya.
Context ¶
In 2013, Sora had attempted to run for presidency, but his recent arrest has brought attention to the issue of drug trafficking in the country. The arrest of Otieno, a member of the Nairobi County Assembly, has also raised concerns about the involvement of public figures in such activities.
As the DCI continues to investigate these cases, the incidents serve as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance in the fight against drug trafficking in Kenya.
