Kenya deports Turkish businessman Harun Aydin, Ruto allies react

By Samuel Ouma

A section of Kenyans allied to Deputy President William Ruto has condemned the deportation of Turkish businessman Harun Aydin.

Aydin was arrested on Saturday at Nairobi’s Wilson Airport after jetting in from Uganda on suspicion of being a terrorist.

The Turkish national who was involved in the drama surrounding the aborted trip of Deputy President William Ruto to Uganda last week was set to be arraigned in court on Monday and charged with terrorism-related offenses.

However, the Kenyan government extradited him on the same day early in the morning after an alleged consultation with the Turkish authorities.

“He was deported to Turkey after consultations with the local officials who asked we send him there for further processing,” revealed a police officer.

He was bundled onto a Turkish airline at about 5 am (East African Time) and landed in Istanbul, where the local security officials picked him for further questioning.

His lawyers led by Ahmedinasir Abdullahi had arrived at Kahawa Anti-Terrorism Police Unit Law Courts only to be informed of the new development.  They were accompanied by lawmaker Oscar Sudi, a staunch Ruto supporter.

The legal team has vowed to challenge his deportation with lawyer Ahmednassir vowing to bring him back.

“As his lawyers, we will challenge the process to deport him, because deportation is done according to certain procedure and laws. The government cannot just deport somebody just because they’re a friend to the deputy president, that’s not an offence. So we will challenge that and bring him back to this country, whether it is this year or next year or the other year, it doesn’t matter,” he said.

The news about Aydin’s deportation has angered William Ruto allies, with MP Sudi daring the President to tackle his deputy directly and not through innocent people.

“We know him from Turkey. If he is a terrorist, so am I. They couldn’t bring him to court and they’ve deported him back to Turkey,” said Sudi.

“I told you.The desperados realizing the embarrassment they have visited upon themselves have decided not to charge Businessman Harun Aydin. They are ready to ruin our international relations&Foreign direct inve. in pursuit of petty politics. In the end they will ruin themselves,” tweeted the former Senate Majority Leader Senator Kipchumba Murkomen.

“According to handshake manifesto you can spir economic growth and foreign direct investment by harnessing, maligning and deporting foreign investors. This is their economic model,” said nominated Senator Millicent Omanga.

Ruto had dismissed claims that Aydin is a terrorist, saying he is an investor. The second in command termed his arrest as political pettiness.