Three governors, a Cabinet secretary, two judges and a senior official in the office of a powerful politician are among tens of Kenyans being sought by the US over links to the notorious Akasha drugs family.
The list of shame — including a sitting MP, a former governor, current and former top police bosses and influential businessmen — is likely to cause a political storm.
Close allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga are among those mentioned in the documents exchanged between Kenyan and US law enforcement agencies.
Two of the governors are from the ruling Jubilee Party, while the third was elected on an ODM ticket.
The ODM governor is sought alongside his brother.
Formal extradition requests have not yet been made but are likely.
“They are wanted by FBI over their links with the Akashas. The two Akasha brothers have extensively named them in their statements,” a highly placed source in government told the Star yesterday.
Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji confirmed they have already received several requests in regard to the prominent Kenyans named by the Akashas.
“We have had interactions with them, there have been questions and there are areas where we need to cooperate. Once we agree on how to proceed, then formal extradition requests will be made by the US,” the DPP told the Star.
If extradited, the officials who have been named in New York State court papers, will have to answer to charges including aiding and abetting drug trafficking.
The Akasha family has been involved in the drugs trade for years, according to US diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks. The Satao Project, a private company focused on fighting poaching, has said the Akasha network was also linked to around 30 tonnes of ivory seizures. U.S. prosecutors have said Baktash Akasha was the leader of the organisation.
On October 26 two brothers, Baktash Akasha, 41, and his brother Ibrahim Akasha, 29, each pleaded guilty before US District Judge Victor Marrero in Manhattan to seven criminal charges, including distribution of heroin and methamphetamine and conspiracy to import the drugs into the United States, according to court records.