President Kenyatta’s administration has reacted to claims that its hosting a former powerful cabinet minister in the ousted former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s government.
Contrary to claims by a section of Zimbabwean media, Kenya denied it granted political asylum to former Zimbabwean Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo.
There were reports that Moyo sought refuge in Kenya after Zimbabwean military took over power from Robert Mugabe in a “bloodless coup” in November.
Moyo has reportedly launched a strong online campaign against newly installed President Emmerson Mnangagwa and is among powerful figures in Mugabe’s administration being sought by the new government to answer to corruption allegations among other charges.
However, speaking to the Nation, Government spokesman Eric Kiraithe said: “I would have known if he was in the country. Political asylum is a security issue and his request would have been processed by the National Security Advisory Council and the cabinet.”
Moyo is said to be the man behind Generation 40, popularly known as G40, a subsidiary faction of the ruling Zanu-PF party that was plotting for Mr Mugabe’s wife, Grace to take over from his husband.
On Thursday, Zimbabwe’s Daily News website reported that Zimbabwe’s new government was mounting pressure on President Kenyatta’s administration to rein in Mr Moyo to stop his continued attacks on president Mnangagwa.
“The Daily News can report that government functionaries are now leaning heavily on Kenyan authorities to rein in the former Higher Education minister seen as the brains behind Mugabe and his pesky wife, Grace’s shenanigans,” the website reported.
Interior Ministry spokesman, Njoka Mwenda also denied that Moyo was in Kenya: “I have asked our immigration guys and they said he is not here,” he said.
“I think the Zimbabwean media are doing some fishing to try to find out where he is. But the website reported that President Mnangagwa’s spokesman George Charamba professed ignorance over the matter, saying the action might have been taken by other ministries without his knowledge.”
