The government has revealed plans to seize a multi-million-shilling palatial house belonging to the family of slain Kenyan drug baron, Ibrahim Abdallah Akasha.
The property, which is classified as proceeds of crime, is located in Mombasa’s upmarket area of Nyali and is valued at over Sh400 million.
The Director of the Anti-Narcotic Police Unit, Dr. Hamisi Massa in a letter to the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) said the beach house should be forfeited to the State.
Massa says the house belongs to Akasha’s two sons, Baktash Akasha and Ibrahim Akasha, who pleaded guilty to drug charges in the US in 2018.
“The above subjects committed offenses under the Narcotic Drugs. The subjects pleaded guilty to the charges and were convicted accordingly. In view of the above, the subjects have properties liable to forfeit that include a beach house in Nyali, Mombasa,” reads the letter in part.
Baktasha and Ibrahim were sentenced to 25 and 23 years in US federal prison respectively. Their father was shot dead by a lone gunman on May 3rd, 2000 in Amsterdam.
Baktash’s wife, Najma Baktash has filed a case in court challenging the planned seizure of the mansion and other properties owned by the Akashas.
On Wednesday, Najma pleaded with the court to release golden chains and three vehicles seized by detectives from the house in 2015 during the arrest of Baktash and Ibrahim. She argues that the properties belonged to her father-in-law and not her husband and his brother.
High Court Justice Erick Ogola summoned Massa and ARA official, Jeniffer Buriti to appear before him on March 3rd, 2021 to shed the light on how the property is linked to illicit drug trade.
“Summons are hereby issued for Massa and Asset Recovery Agency to come to court on March 3 to enlighten the court over why these properties should be forfeited to the State,” said Ogola.
