Details have emerged that Kenyan tycoon Ali Punjani, who is wanted by police over allegations of drug trafficking, funded campaigns for top politicians during the 2017 elections.
Punjani allegedly bankrolled two presidential candidates, 10 governors and dozens of MPs and MCAs in the last election, according to K24 TV.
K24 TV reports that documents recovered from the billionaire businessman’s palatial house in Nyali, Mombasa during a raid by police officers on Wednesday showed that he spent millions of shillings to fund politicians.
“The man is well connected. It took us a short while after we entered his house to realize he could be 100 years ahead in terms of planning; he has thousands of sketches of his plans,” K24 quoted a detective, who participated in the raid.
“There were Nepalese and Indians inside that house. We obtained their travel documents and communication gadgets and established that they have been to other African countries before coming to Kenya. We have been piecing together information to establish the kind of businesses they are in and their link with the suspect.”
“When I tell you this man is miles ahead I mean it. He was monitoring the entire search from wherever he is. He remotely controls the cameras,” the officer noted.
In 2013, Punjani was among members of the Mombasa business community who donated a fleet of 19 police patrol vehicles to Mombasa County government to help in the fight against insecurity.
At the time, Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho announced that the customized cars worth Sh2.5 million each were a donation from the business community including Punjani, Mukwano, Grain Bulk, My Space Properties, Rising Star Commodities, Toyopet, Sangani Transporters, and the Hassan Joho Foundation.
During the Wednesday raid at Punjani’s home, his Nepalese wife Ms. Karki Sushmi, 24, was arrested alongside two men of Nepalese and Indian origin. The three were on Thursday released by a Mombasa court over lack of evidence linking them to the drugs trade.
Punjani is reported to have traveled to India, where he is currently hospitalized after undergoing heart surgery.
Punjani is believed to be a close ally of the Akasha brothers, Baktash and Ibrahim, who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges before a United States court last year.
Drug lords……and the Joho…
Drug lords……and the Joho Foundation. Why tip-toe around Joho? The man knows it all.
Again, no names. Wait until…
Again, no names. Wait until you’ve full information!
What is the use of…
What is the use of announcing this raid if the target is out of the country. I never quite understand the justice system in Kenya. They knew all along the guy was a major drug dealer. Why has been allowed to operate for ever buying his way to the top? The system is so corrupted that this case is going nowhere. He will buy them off and continue as usual.
I hate these stories that do…
I hate these stories that do not name the names of those involved. What is the purpose of writing such a story? Wasting people time and energy.
He may have suffered heart…
He may have suffered heart attack after he caught word that Authorities were Zeoing in on him.
We have to be grateful of…
We have to be grateful of what Matiangi is doing and the Uhuru government. They haven’t been perfect but they are fighting drug lords that no other administration could do before. I can for sure say that Kenya is becoming the top democratic nation and a land of law compared to most African nations. Proud to be a Kenyan!
Asante sana @Mos. Kweli…
Asante sana @Mos. Kweli slikali najaribu sana kupigana na mahadrati na pia corruption. Ni lazima sisi napongeza rais Uhuru na vile vile shujaa Raila. Hii maedleo yiote napatkana sababu yia handshake. Mungu ibariki Kenya.
@Mos and company mko…
@Mos and company mko usingizi mzito sana wacha niwarushie mablanketi juu ya hii Summer. The UHURU GOVERNMENT is what has bred these drug lords. Kila sehemu huwezi kosa watu live hata in the streets of Nairobi wakijidunga masindano za mihadarati hadharani. Isitoshe, NEVER EVER praise someone who is rushing things last minute in the name of leaving a legacy. Ni nani who hasn’t been used and dumped by Uhuru and his so called circle. Fungueni macho na muwache kuwa na memories za kitoto. Hawa watu hawanaga marafiki. Remember even Mungiki was used by Uhuru and when they were done with them some were being executed in broad daylight. Hawa watu wanajuana kwa undani tena sana. Kenya is at a rotten rotten rotten state, watu bado wanakuanga tu hoodwinked and made to look the other way. They know exactly what they are doing and you know what else? Nobody can do a goddam thing to them. Hivyo ndivyo kunaendaga. Ati Uhuru government dping something???????