John Harun Mwau, popularly known as the boss, filed a petition challenging the reelection of President Uhuru Kenya. Who is John Harun Mwau and why is he against the Presidency of Uhuru Kenyatta? Is he working on Raila's proxy or he has his own interested expedition?
Mwau is a former police sharp shooter and even participated in 1968 Olympics in shooting competition. He is also the former boss of the defunct Kenya Anti-Ciorruption Commission(KACC) and former MP for Kilome Constituency. He vied for the presidency in 1992. He was defeated by the Late Mutula Kilonzo in 2013 for the Makueni Senatorial race and again humiliated by Mutula Kilonzo Jr in a subsequent by-election following the death of Mutula Kilonzo Snr.
The wealthiest businessman is very controversial in the business circle. He has occasionally been alleged to be involved in drug trafficking, fraud and money laundering. Indeed, in 2004, detectives raided his Pepe Limited, his bonded warehouse in Athi River, after it was suspected that a sh 6.4b cocaine haul seized in Malindi had found its way there. The anti-narcotics agencies had unearthed an international drug ring after impounding 701kg of Colombian Grade One cocaine in a raid where Italian and Kenyan suspects were arrested.
However, no incriminating evidence was found but claims of Mwau’s links with global drug trafficking still lingers. The United States named him, alongside other notorious global drug lords, including Kenyan Naima Mohamed Nyakinyua, Mexicans Manuel Torres Felix and Gonzales Inzunza; Haji Lal Jan (Afghan) and Kamchybek Asanbekovich Kolbayev of Kyrgyzstan, for global drug trafficking. His assets in US were frozen.
Leaked communications between Ranneberger and the Whitehouse in Washington indicated that the envoy had written to President Obama, and told him that, the list of corrupt individuals in Kenya would not be complete without Mwau. Ranneberger claimed Mwau was widely believed to have amassed a huge fortune from trafficking drugs and other contraband through his Mombasa based freight forwarding company, Pepe Ltd.
In his first term in office, president Uhuru Kenyatta promised to get rid of the country of narcotic trade and warned traffickers that they would be dealt with without fear nor favour. Indeed, several interceptions were made including a merchant ship that was blown by Kenya Navy in the Indian Ocean and witnessed by President Uhuru.
Could Mwau have hated Uhuru's regime because of his commitment to deal with drug traffickers?
The verdict is yours.