Editor's Review

  • He was among the people who were recently blocked from travelling to Uganda with Deputy President William Ruto.

Turkish Businessman Harun Aydin has been detained by Immigration Officials at Wilson Airport shortly after landing from Uganda.

Reports reaching Nairobi Leo indicate that Mr. Aydin has been taken for questioning.

He was among the people who were recently blocked from travelling to Uganda with Deputy President William Ruto.

Mr Aydin became a subject of discussion in Kenya after it emerged that the State may have blocked the DP’s travel because of Aydin’s past investigation on claims of being associated with a terror group.

Aydin was arrested at a German airport in 2001 over terror links after his luggage contained suspicious items.

His travel bag was reportedly found to be in possession of a face mask, camouflage clothing, a chemical weapons protection suit and materials to produce an explosive detonator.

The Turkish Embassy in Nairobi however, defended the businessman over claims that he has a criminal record, and shouldn't be in the country.

An official from the Turkish Embassy in Nairobi noted that Aydin is an investor who has been in Kenya on several occasions and a law-abiding citizen who was legally in Kenya having travelled using his Turkish passport.

Deputy President William Ruto in an interview also dismissed claims that Harun Aydin is a man of questionable repute, adding that he is a respected investor who was in the country legally.

The DP noted that Aydin has invested a lot of money in Kenya, and branding him a terrorist is bad for business, as he is a key investor in the country.

Kulikuwa na wanabiashara watatu, watu ambao wako na biashara zao, watu wa heshima. Huyo mfanyibiashara wa Uturuki, embassy ya Uturuki yenyewe imetoa taarifa kusema ni mfanyibiashara anayetambulika na ana work permit…Ni mwekezaji ambaye ameweka pesa nyingi katika biashara ya taifa letu la Kenya"

“…Wale wanajaribu kuweka fitina eti kwamba huyu mtu ni terrorist, unaona vile tunaharibu sifa ya Kenya? Unawezaje kuchukua mtu amewekeza katika taifa la Kenya unaenda kumbandika ati ni mgaidi? That’s how we destroy our country. Na siasa hizi ndogo ndogo za pesa nane eti kwa sababu unajaribu kushinda na naibu wa rais,” Ruto said.