Police Launch Manhunt for Ex-Presidential Aspirant
by John MbatiPolice have launched a manhunt for former presidential aspirant Jaffer Issack Kanu, who was arrested with 445 kilograms of bhang worth Ksh 13,350,000 on Tuesday night, June 18, 2019.
Jaffer, who had vied in the 2013 elections, was nabbed in his Toyota Prado 10 kilometres north of Marsabit Police Station towing a cart with the outlawed substance.
A police officer tipped Kenyans.co.ke that the politician, who was released on a Ksh3 million bond, was set to appear in court on Monday, January 20 but failed to show up and went into hiding.
A warrant of arrest was issued in the principal magistrate's court at Marsabit in Criminal Case number 366.
"You are hereby commanded forthwith to apprehend the aforementioned and to bring him before this court to answer the said charge and to be further dealt with according to law," the warrant addressed to Marsabit Central Police Station boss read.
In December 2019, Isaak filed a case against Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai and Director of Criminal of Investigation George Kinoti, arguing that he would not get a fair trial.
His case was, however, dismissed by the Marsabit High Court.
"There is no indication that the applicant will not get a fair trial. There is no contravention of any of the Articles of the Constitution cited on the application. The applicant should undergo the trial and wait for the evidence to be adduced.
He can challenge the evidence on the ground that it was not properly obtained. The court will have to make a ruling on the objection," Judge Said Chitembwe ruled.
The ex-presidential candidate went low-key after his presidential ambition failed to materialize.
In June 2014, he hit the headlines when two organizations funding an initiative on national cohesion through the former presidential candidate received complaints from his employees alleging unpaid dues.
At least 10 people who had been working with Mr Jaffer Isaak had written to the Swiss Embassy in Nairobi and Inuka Trust Kenya, an organization run by former anti-corruption czar John Githongo, claiming they had not received their salaries for May and June 2014.
