15-Year Drug Trafficking Case Returns To Torment Kabogo During Vetting
Kabogo admitted that the matter has tormented him throughout his life since the late George Saitoti named MPs accused of being drug dealers.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
ICT and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary nominee William Kabogo has asserted that he has never dealt with any form of drugs. This is as a drug trafficking case dating back to 2010 which he was linked to came back to haunt him on Tuesday, January 14.
Speaking while appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, Kabogo admitted that the matter has tormented him throughout his life since the late George Saitoti named MPs accused of being drug dealers.
However, according to Kabogo, he has never been involved in drug trafficking or used any drugs as it had been alleged in the United States (US) Dossier in 2010. “I have never ever dealt with drugs of any kind all my life. I invite Kenyans also to have a look at the dossier that the late George Saitoti brought to the house,” he said.
He remarked that it was just a dossier such that "if it could have been given to Inspector Mwala it would not pass his table for a script. The only drug I use, and carry is Panadol.”
Photo of the late George Saitoti. /NAIROBI NEWS
“If at that point in time I fought vigorously the tabling of our names without leave of the house because the rules were such that if you are discussing the conduct of an MP, you need to move a substantive motion. But for that particular case, it went on smoothly as planned," he defended.
Kabogo went on to assert that the police conducted thorough investigations and issued a temporary report a month later, which was tabled. The report found out that he was not involved and had never been involved in drug trafficking.
He remarked that a section of Kenyans referred to him as Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria, a Colombian drug lord, narcoterrorist, and politician who was the founder and sole leader of the Medellín Cartel.
“You will find some of us are named Pablo…all those names. But the truth be told is that I did take people to court. If you remember there was a program by Standard called something mihadarati by Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and I did take them to court,” he continued.
“It has taken long about 8 or 9 years but finally, I got a judgement against them, and I was paid a little amount of money, but circulation is still happening. This is something I am bound to leave with for the rest of my life.”
Kabogo was among four MPs and a businessman who were named as the high-profile Kenyans whose alleged involvement in the narcotics trade was under probe following a secret US dossier.
Saitoti, who was then serving as Minister for Internal Security, sensationally revealed to an enraged House that former MPs Gideon Mbuvi Sonko (Makadara), Hassan Joho (Kisauni), Assistant Minister Harun Mwau (Kilome), and William Kabogo (Juja) were under investigation by the police over alleged involvement in the narcotics trade.
He also revealed that Mombasa businessman Ali Punjani was under the police spotlight. Kabogo would thereafter table a dossier containing names of alleged drug barons, reportedly authored by former US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger.
He claimed that Saboti, Eugene Wamalwa and former Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua were among those named in the dossier. However, Wamalwa objected to the dossier, describing it as a smear campaign intended to tarnish his then-2012 presidential ambitions.
Former Speaker Kenneth Marende would then rule that Kabogo’s documents would need to be authenticated before they could be admitted to the House.
