20110407 - Kenya is set to benefit from a multi-billion shillings budget the United States has planned for fighting drug trafficking. The US$4 million (Kshs.332 million) is to be released this year and 2012.

At the same time, US Drug Enforcement Agency is set to establish a permanent office in Nairobi to help choke local cocaine and heroin trafficking routes. The plans are contained in this year’s International Narcotics Control Strategy report prepared by the US Government.

Similar grant
Kenya missed out on a similar grant to countries faced with the drug menace last year. It comes at a time Kenya Police has intensified the war against the illegal trade, but amid pressure by powerful barons to backtrack on their investigations.

The US report was presented to the Congress in March and released at the weekend. The decision is informed by the fact that drugs passing through Kenya are consumed in the US.

Police seized 102kg of heroin worth Kshs.200 million in Mombasa two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, a court in Nairobi has declined to grant bail to six people charged with trafficking in 102kg of heroin. Nairobi chief magistrate Gilbert Mutembei gave the ruling yesterday after the suspected traffickers had sought to be released on bail pending the hearing and determination of their case.

The six are Kenyans Joash Omondi, Hassan Ibrahim and Yusuf Hassan, Iranians Ali Mohamad and Abdul Baasit and Pakistani Khan Mohamad. They are all denied the charges.

The Iranians are further charged with being in the country illegally, failing to report at any immigration office upon arrival to register as foreigners and being in possession of invalid travel documents.

Mr Ibrahim and Mr Hassan are separately charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. They were arrested on March 24th at Shanzu in Mombasa allegedly with the consignment of the drugs camouflaged as dog food. Later, they were flown to Nairobi to face charges.

The magistrate ruled that he found the offence preferred against the accused to be serious, considering the penalty it carries if they are found guilty.