Govt: War against drug dealers not politically motivated

By KBC Reporter

The government has dismissed allegations that the ongoing operation targeting drug dealers is politically motivated.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery says the war on drug cartels begun long ago and is not about to end even as Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho accused the government of hatching yet another plot to portray him and his leadership in bad light by linking him to the cartels.

As the crackdown on drug peddlers and their kingpins intensifies in the coastal region where two of the slain former drug baron Ibrahim Akasha sons were arrested and extradited to the United States, accusations and counter accusations continue to emerge between the government and leaders drawn from the area.

Joho broke his silence on his alleged link with drug cartels terming the claims as mere political mind games to discredit him in the next general elections.

The Governor affirmed that he will not avail himself to any investigative organs arguing that no notice has been served to him on the allegations.

And with the recent claims that some government officials are colluding with drug barons with some getting financial benefits, Nkaissery said the National Police service has launched investigations into the allegations and that the findings will soon be made public.

In a quick rejoinder, a section of leaders drawn from Mombasa questioned why the government has not taken action against the said drug barons only to wait until the electioneering period to begin the campaign.