Five Kenyans to hang over drugs in China
By Cyrus Ombati
Tuesday, 2nd June 2009
Five Kenyans have been sentenced to death in China after they were found guilty of drug trafficking.
Six others have been condemned to life imprisonment in Chinese jails for drug peddling, The Standard has established.
And 20 others, majority of them young women, are serving a cumulative jail term of 150 years. Some of them may not even have known that they were carrying drugs.
These are among more than 200 Kenyans currently being held in various jails in China, India, Pakistan, UK and other Asian countries over drug-related offences.
Some of those already serving jail terms were university students before they were lured to serve as drug couriers. Among those sentenced to death are Mr Peter Amisi Obonyo, 36, who was arrested in Shenzhen, China. Others are Ms Josephine Achieng Onim, 25, and Ms Grace Lucy Omondi, 57 both arrested in Guangzhou on different dates.
Ms Leah Muthoni Mweru Kimani and Ms Christine Nyabera Ongowo, 47, were also sentenced to death after being arrested with drugs in Guangzhou. Those sentenced to life imprisonment are Margaret Mudasia Engesia, 36; Ms Oliviah S. Munoko, 26; Ms Peris Mumbi, 39; Jemimah Wairimu Wangai, 43; Ms Catherine Wambui, 39; and Ms Jacinta Wambui Kuria, 44.
More Arrests
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the number but said the figure could be higher as more Kenyans had been arrested last month on drug-related offences and their particulars remained unclear.
The acting Head of Press and Communications
Unit at the Foreign Affairsministry, Mr Kiboi Waituru, however, clarified that none of those handed death sentences has been hanged yet.
The Standard has also established that many other Kenyans are serving sentences in jails around the world for drug-related offences, but the Government is unaware because they used fake documents, or were not registered with Kenyan missions abroad. A number of them have died in foreign jails.
“It is unfortunate that some of our missions do not have records of Kenyans arrested or serving sentences on drug charges because many of them do not register with the embassies as required. Some only do so when seeking assistance when they encounter problems,” said Waituru. Most of the convicts were caught carrying a kilo or less of the drugs, which range from cocaine to heroin and amphetamines. The traffickers are usually paid between Sh200, 000 and Sh300,000 on delivery of the drugs. Waituru said police in other countries contact the Kenyan missions to verify the nationality of suspects arrested while traveling on Kenyan passports.
The Government too assists the families of those in custody to travel abroad to visit their relatives. A list of names of the traffickers in Chinese jails alone, a copy of which was obtained by The Standard, show that some Kenyans were given death and life sentences after pleading “guilty” to the charges.
Many of the traffickers were arrested in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Beijing on diverse dates between 2007 and last month. “Some of them have had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment for good behaviour while in jail. They are hardly executed,” Waituru said.
Some Confessed
A big number of the Kenyans in custody have allegedly confessed they had been recruited by a Nigerian drug kingpin — a Mr Ken Amadu Obina Okuoma — in Nairobi. Okuoma has since been deported.
Okuoma had operated a drugs empire in Kenya for more than a decade until early this year when he was caught in a dramatic police operation. He was also linked to the arrest of former Miss Tourism and fashion model Ms Loise Ambasa, who was found with 4.2kg of cocaine valued at Sh21 million on arrival at Nairobi’s JKIA airport from Accra, Ghana, in 2005. She was released in November last year after police failed to produce a bag that they had earlier claimed contained the drugs.
Police investigations show that drug barons operating from Nairobi have been recruiting couriers, especially young women, who are lured with the promise of large amounts of money and lavish lifestyles.
Head of CID’s Anti-Narcotics Unit Ms Judy Auma said the number of Kenyans in custody over drug offences abroad could be higher because some of the cases go unreported.
Source-The Standard
Kenyan Arrested with Heroin in Handbag
Bangalore, March 9, 2009:
Customs officials at the Bengaluru International Airport today arrested a 23-year-old Kenyan woman and seized 1.46 kg of heroin valued at Rs five crore in the international market from her possession.
Customs official M Srinivas told presspersons that Njoki Susan, a resident of Nairobi in Kenya, was trying to fly to Shanghai via Bangkok on Thai Airways flight ”TG 326”. The narcotic was concealed in her hand bag.
”We acted on a prior information about the transport of the narcotic and waited till the luggage of the woman was booked in her name and nabbed her just before she boarded the flight,” he said.
This was the third heroin seizure made by the officials in the city this year.
In a biggest haul last month, the officials had seized five kg of heroin from a couple and a foreigner, who were trying to send the narcotic through courier to a foreign country.
Later, she was remanded to custody by the NDPS court in the city.
Source-mangalorean
A Kenyan murdered in Baltimore Maryland
11/29/08
The late Alexander Waiganjo Njuguna
Alexander Waiganjo Njuguna, a Kenyan living in Baltimore Maryland was murdered by unknown assailant in his apartment between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Alexander was 29 years old and is the son of Rose Njeri Njuguna of Baltimore Maryland.
The circumstances of his death are still unknown and the police are still investigating.
Family and friends are currently meeting at Rose’s home (Alexander’s mother) in Baltimore as they try to come to grips with this terrible tragedy. They are requesting all Kenyans and friends everywhere to join them in prayer and also in comforting and assisting Rose to take care of the expenses of the funeral and burial which will take place in Kenya sometime within the next 2 weeks.
Well wishers may send money through the following account:
BANK OF AMERICA
ACCT No: 446009463985
ROUTING: 052001633
NAME: ROSE NJERI.
Daily meetings are currently being held from 6PM at:
30 SATURN COURT
PARKVILLE MD 21234
Friends and family are also meeting at KICC Cafeteria in Nairobi Kenya. Contact Alex’s brother directly at:
STEVE NJUGUNA
CELL 715-363-977 OR 770-136-393
EMAIL: st**********@ho*****.com
UK MEETINGS:
SUSAN NJUGUNA -Alex’s younger sister
FLAT 409 VISTA BUILDING
30 CALDERWOOD ST
LONDON SEL8 6JG UNITED KINGDOM
TEL:011-44-790-048-7764.
TEXAS MEETINGS:
CONTACT:RITTA ri******@ya***.com
address: 4701 ORCHARD RIDGE DR
GARLAND TEXAS 75043
PH: 1-214-404-6624
For further details, please contact the following people.
Committee Chairman Stephen Munyiri 1-443-682-1944
Secretary David Ndegwa 1-4436213480
Consulting Pastor Stephen magua 1-443-889-5953
Help Line/Prayer Request
