Inspector General if Police Joseph Boinnet and Interpol Executive Director of Police Services Tim Morris in a recent meeting in Nairobi. [Photo: Courtesy]

Police have cleared Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho over allegations he was wanted by Interpol for trading in drugs.

The revelations were made in a letter by Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti to Joho on Wednesday clarifying that there were no such proceedings by the international criminal police organisation against him.

“Please be informed that the letter which has been circulating in the social media pertaining to your client and others that are being investigated and being sought by Interpol is not true. The document citing that was a forgery,” a letter written on behalf of the DCI boss by head of investigations at DCI Mr John Kariuki reads.

The DCI attached an internal memo from Interpol stating their findings.

“… the Interpol has confirmed that through their office of legal affairs to our Nairobi Central Bureau. Since we may not go very far by investigating the origin of the forged letter in the social media, please take civil remedy for those who are spreading the malicious rumours,” the DCI said.

The Chief of Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Nairobi Bethuel Oburu had written to Kinoti asking him to investigate the origin of the document.

“This bureau seeks to bring to your attention the attached document circulating in social media regarding the case of the Akasha implicating politicians and prominent individuals. The same was forwarded to Interpol General Secretariat who in turn indicated that the office of legal affairs has never issued the said document citing that it was forgery,” said Oburu in his memo.

Joho had, through MM Advocates, written to Kinoti and Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji seeking to know the true position.

This was after a group of Jubilee politicians led by Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, all who are allied to the Deputy President William Ruto, accused him of engaging in the illegal trade.

Joho’s battles

The developments give Joho more ammunition in the case he has filed against some group politicians he accuses of defaming him with regards to drug trafficking claims.

Joho had asked the Interpol to clarify reports that he is in the wanted list of drug barons.

Joho wrote to the Paris-based Office of General Secretary of Interpol, seeking to know if it’s true that he being sought for arrest purportedly for charges of organised crimes, including drugs trafficking.

The governor, through his lawyer DBM Mosota, said he has been made aware of a statement issued on November 10, 2018, purportedly from the Interpol listing him among the fugitives.

The letter, which has been circulating widely especially on social media, has given fodder for Joho’s critics with some political leaders calling on President Uhuru Kenyatta to hand over the governor to international authorities.

It names nine suspects, it claims, are part of a sophisticated international drug trafficking network, responsible for tons of narcotic shipments throughout the world and includes the name of Ali Hassan Joho.

Joho, however, says that the statement and notice make serious allegations pertaining his character and has substantially negatively affected his professional and personal life.

Mosota told Interpol that his client has, therefore, been subjected to the court of public opinion without being given an opportunity to refute claims of purported involvement in organised crimes.

“This has caused irreparable damage and will continue to do so if there is no official confirmation from your office on the authenticity or lack thereof of the said statement and notice,” the letter dated January 29, 2019, states in part.

The letter was copied to Kinoti.