Information Communications and Technology and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary nominee William Kabogo says he was exonerated from drug trafficking allegations following investigations into a dossier issued by the American Embassy in 2010 to the then Anti-Corruption Commission.
The drug trafficking claims resurfaced during Kabogo’s vetting before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments. National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed raised concerns regarding the matter, prompting Kabogo to address the allegations.
Kabogo criticized the dossier, asserting that it lacked substantive evidence to implicate him and others named in the report, including Mining CS Hassan Joho, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, and former Kilome MP Haron Mwau.
“I have never, ever dealt with drugs of any kind in my life, and this is a very disturbing subject. I invite Kenyans to review the dossier that Mr. Saitoti brought to the House. If it were given to Inspector Mwangi, it would not even pass as a credible script,” he remarked.
The former Kiambu Governor emphasized that investigations conducted by security agencies, whose findings were tabled in Parliament, cleared him of any involvement in drug trafficking.
“The government and its agencies, including the police, carried out a thorough investigation and presented a report a month later. That report, which is part of this House’s records, found that I was not culpable. I have never been involved in drug trafficking,” Kabogo affirmed.
Kabogo lamented the damage caused by the dossier and subsequent media reports, which he said had tarnished his reputation and character.He noted that he had successfully sought court orders to halt defamatory publications.
He also revealed that some Kenyans had compared him to Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria, the infamous Colombian drug lord and leader of the Medellín Cartel.
“So many authors of these allegations probably didn’t achieve what they intended, but they succeeded in tarnishing people’s names. That is the situation today. People refer to me as Pablo, among other names,” Kabogo lamented.
Mercy Keino
Meanwhile, Kabogo has maintained his innocence in the tragic death of university student Mercy Keino in June 2011.
Responding to a question posed by Teso South MP Mary Emase over his alleged role in the incident, Kabogo maintained that he had no part in Keino’s demise.
“It is alleged that I had invited people to a party, Mr. Speaker. That is not true. This was simply a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Kabogo said, referring to the incident that occurred in 2011 at a restaurant.
Kabogo who was speaking when he appeared before Committee on Appointments, emphasized that the venue was a public space, and there were several groups present on that fateful day.
The former Kiambu Governor further explained that he did not learn of Keino’s death until two weeks after she had been buried.
“Even if I had met her the following day after that hotel or restaurant, I would never have noticed her,” Kabogo stated.
He expressed his deep sympathy for the Keino family, acknowledging the pain caused by the tragedy.
The issue of Mercy Keino’s death had been the subject of an inquest, which was held at the Milimani Magistrates Court.
Kabogo, who was serving as Governor at the time, clarified that he had willingly participated in the legal proceedings.
“I was Governor, but I managed to be able to sit in there for 6 days for cross- examination,” Kabogo noted.
He emphasized that the court’s judgment, which took approximately a year and a half to conclude, exonerated him.
The ruling determined that Keino’s death was a result of a hit-and-run incident involving a truck, not the actions of any of the people present at the restaurant.
Kabogo further recounted his engagement with Keino’s father when the distressing video footage related to the incident was played in the court.
“I was urging Mercy Keino’s father not to watch those videos because they were very difficult for any parent to witness,” Kabogo said.
Kabogo expressed his heartfelt condolences for the loss of Mercy Keino, saying, “It is a sad story. I sympathize with the family and may her soul rest in peace.”
He also held out hope for eventual justice, saying, “I am certain that as a God-fearing person, I believe that one day, the truck driver or whoever it is that was in the truck that killed Mercy Keino will come out and say, ‘Unfortunately, I kept quiet but I did it.’ I hope that day will come,” he said.
