Govt has not apologized to deported Turkish, Aydin-Matiang’i

By Mourice Seretta

The Kenyan government has not tendered an apology for deporting Turkish controversial businessman Harun Aydin.

Interior and National Government Co-ordination Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i has refuted the claims by Deputy President William Ruto that the government was remorseful for the controversial arrest, detaining and deportation of Aydin who it considered a ‘terrorist’.

“No. The Kenyan government has NOT apologized. The Turkish national was deported on agreement between our two governments. Our security apparatus were in communication before and during the exercise.”  Matiang’i said.

The CS has further added that Aydin was handed over to Turkey as per international protocols and agreements to be tried in his country.

He noted that the Turkish travelled with VIPs who gave him cover and that’s how his passport wasn’t getting stamped at Kenya’s immigration gates.

While in Kenya, there was nothing to show about Aydin’s ‘purported’ investments and he travelled to Goma DRC, Dubai, Zanzibar, South Sudan and Uganda in the company of the said VIPs.

The Times understands authorities noted he had dubious phone numbers, no real physical location etc.

In a tweet on Monday, the DP said he called Aydin and apologised to him on behalf of the government following his ‘controversial deportation’ on Sunday night.

Ruto described the arrest, torture and profiling of the businessman before being asked to fly out after the government had nothing to charge him with as political pettiness.

“Just talked and apologised on behalf of the government to Aydin, now in Turkey, who was politically arrested, tortured and falsely profiled as a ‘terrorist’ but later asked to fly out not to ashame those involved,” he wrote adding that political pettiness was expensive and dangerous.

The Times also understands that Aydin was who was expected to accompany Ruto to his aborted Uganda trip reportedly left the country aboard a Turkish Airlines flight between Sunday and Monday morning.

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