NAIROBI, Kenya
A Turkish national in the drama surrounding the aborted trip by Deputy President William Ruto to Uganda was weekend detained in Nairobi.
Harun Aydin was detained held by immigration officials on landing in Nairobi from Uganda where he had been since August 2. He is likely to be arraigned on Monday as police said they are investigating his activities in the region, particularly in relation to money laundering.
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi with officials from Turkish embassy in Nairobi at ATPU offices on August 7, 2021
Officials said they wanted to question him with regard to his immigration status, work permit and the business he is involved in in the region.
His detention has caused a political storm, with some politicians seeing it as harassment of those close to the DP.
Officers from the Anti-Terror Police Unit picked him from Wilson Airport, Nairobi, upon arrival from Uganda and took him for further questioning at their offices. He spent Saturday night in an ATPU cell amid efforts to release him.
But the officers said they needed him to clarify some information.
Ugandan national Paul Bamutaze who had accompanied him in the chartered plane was arrested outside ATPU offices and deported to Kampala by road.
Bamutaze has apparently filed a case at the East African Court of Justice over remarks by Kenyan politicians against Uganda's ruling National Resistance Movement.
There was also pressure to have Aydin deported Saturday and Sunday. Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i who would have signed the deportation papers was out of Nairobi.
But officials said the Turk had committed an offence and needed to pay for it. Police said they had established he had come to Kenya twice without their knowledge.
“His passport shows he exited twice from Kenya but there is no entry stamp. How did this happen and who facilitated this?” asked a senior official aware of the probe.
The drama drew condemnation by Ruto and politicians in his camp.
“Turkish investor Aydin Harun is a victim of top-down arrogance bred by patronage and cartels that criminalise enterprise. Importers' goods declared contraband, Africa spirits closed, Keroche harassed, now investor with valid papers labelled a terrorist. The tragedy of political pettiness,” Ruto said on Saturday.
A group of lawyers, politicians and officials from the Turkish embassy in Nairobi visited the ATPU offices Saturday and tried in vain to see Aydin.
Kenyan officials said the Turkish government was aware of what was happening. The eastern European country was informed he was under probe despite reports he can hardly speak in English.
Aydin runs a company known as Unit 2HA Investment Energy Africa Ltd. He was issued a working permit by the Department of Immigration Services in Kenya on June 30, 2021, and it is supposed to expire on June 29, 2023.
Aydin was among those who were held at Wilson on August 2 as they prepared to leave for Kampala.
The rest in the group flew but Ruto was denied the clearance on claims he needed to be cleared by authorities. Ruto was to be accompanied by Aydin as well as Eric Ruto, David Langat, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, Kinango MP, Benjamin Tayari and Elijah Rono.
Ruto has since defended Aydin whose presence is said to have spooked government officials.
The DP said Aydin is a well-known businessman, appearing to downplay the controversy that surrounded the Turk’s presence as the only foreigner on the foreign trip.
The issue has caused debate in the country, especially after it emerged he bears a similar name to the one charged with terror in Germany two decades ago.
Speaking on Inooro FM, DP Ruto dismissed reports that Aydin is a man of questionable character. He said Aydin is a respected businessman who has a permit to operate in Kenya and even the Turkish embassy has confirmed the same.
Ruto said he was to be in Uganda on a private investment mission, questioning why he needed clearance to leave the country.
"Now will I be announcing the whole of Kenya going to do my own business? The Turkish businessman, the Turkish embassy itself has issued a statement, saying he is a recognised businessman and has a work permit… There are those who want to destroy, saying he is a terrorist,” Ruto said.
Ruto said that as a Kenyan, he is entitled to privacy and clarified that his friendship with Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni was well-intentioned.
Ruto was denied clearance to Uganda after waiting for hours at the airport. Confirming the incident last Monday, his office said he arrived at the Wilson Airport at 2pm but was told he had not been cleared to fly out.
“The Deputy President did not fly out, he was told he cannot fly because he had not been cleared,” his press secretary David Mugonyi said.
“This has never happened in nine years he has been in office as Deputy President.”
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