Pubdate: Tue, 16 Mar 2004
Source: Daily Nation (Kenya)
Copyright: 2004 Nation Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/Today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/868
Author: Wahome Thuku

INQUIRY TOLD OF AKASHA'S ZAMBIA LINKS

Nairobi - Murdered drug dealer Ibrahim Akasha was closely linked with 
former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, a tribunal heard. Mr Akasha's 
former househelp and driver, Mr Festus M'Buri, said the then President was 
the only person associated with Mr Akasha in Zambia.

The alleged relationship dated back to early 1990's when Mr Akasha carried 
out transport business from Tanzania to Zambia. The business was later 
linked to drug trafficking.

Mr M'Buri told the tribunal inquiring into the conduct of suspended Appeal 
Court judge Philip Waki that, Mr Akasha occasionally visited President 
Kaunda at State House in Zambia.

The witness, who was testifying for the third day, however, did not link 
the former President to the drug business.

Mr Justice Waki is alleged to have had close relationship with Mr Akasha, 
who was shot dead in Amsterdam in 2000. The claims were made by businessman 
Khurshid Butt, the sole accuser of the judge.

The judge is being investigated for the way he handled Mr Butt's cases when 
he (Waki) served was High Court judge in Mombasa and Nairobi.

Defence lawyers Mutula Kilonzo and George Oraro have spent two days 
cross-examining the witness.

Yesterday, Mr M'Buri was forced to reveal what he claimed were dirty jobs 
he did for his boss. He narrated how Mr Akasha often called him into his 
bedroom and sent him to pick up a mistress and take her to him at 
undisclosed destinations without the knowledge of his three wives.

"If I knew I was to say all these about Akasha, I would never have come to 
testify," he regretted.

Mr M'Buri, who said he had nothing against Mr Justice Waki, told the 
tribunal that after Akasha's drug cases were highly publicised in the 
Kenyan press, government officials and other friends stopped visiting his 
house.

Earlier, Mr M'Buri denied claims by Mr Kilonzo that he had been 
accommodated by his masters at Panafric Hotel, Nairobi, as an inducement to 
have him testify. Mr Kilonzo claimed the witness had also allegedly, 
bragged to a friend last week, that he had been paid handsomely to testify.

Meanwhile, the International Commission of Jurists has been allowed to send 
two Commonwealth judges to sit at the tribunal as observers.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager