The Standard ­ Wednesday
Date: 01.02.2017
Page 3
Article size: 264 cm2
ColumnCM: 58.66
AVE: 140800.0
Drug baron's reign of terror and tussle over vast wealth
By WILLIS OKETCH
Indian security sources have
claimed Akasha and Dawood had
be on his payroll.
Seventeen years later, it is still un­
clear who ordered the murder of drugs
crossed paths over the control of one
of the most lucrative drug trade routes
Many celebrated Akasha's death,
believing they had heard the last of
his drug trafficking empire and reign
lord Ibrahim Akasha. The man was
between Pakistan to East Africa and
of terror in East Africa.
shot dead in a red­light district in Am­
South America through the Kenyan
sterdam, Netherlands.
Coast.
There was cause to celebrate be­
Several accounts indicate the po­
At the time of his visit to Amster­
cause just before the murder of the
patriarch, his favourite sons Kamaldin
lygamist Akasha was, most likely, ex­
ecuted by foreign drug barons over
dam, Akasha was also a man under
Akasha and Baktash Akasha were in
police custody in Mombasa accused
of trafficking in hashish worth Sh940
Most analysts suspect Akasha was
siege from Kenyan authorities under
US pressure. Due to his immense in­
fluence and notoriety, Akasha and his
deals gone sour.
million.
ities who described him in Novem­
ber 2014 as a leading drug baron with
global networks.
Following Akasha's murder, his
fractious family descended into prop­
erty feuds and succession wars over
billions of cash in banks and other
investments in Kenya, Zambia, South
Sudan, Sudan and Lebanon.
Kamaldin was killed in the course
of these violent clashes. Baktash and
his step­brother Tinta Akasha were
lured to his death in Amsterdam by In­
army of sons were a law unto them­
Some 14 years later, it became evi­
briefly arrested after Kamaldin's mur­
her of Baktash
dian fugitive Dawood Ibrahim. At the
selves.
dent this celebration was premature;
Akasha and Ibrahim > ikasha, cries at
moment of his death, Akasha was hav­
for Baktash Akasha, who ably fit­
the Mombasa High jurt yesterday.
[PHOTO: KELVIN KARANI/$ IANDARDJ
ing an evening walk with Hayat, one of
Top politicians and police officers
lived in fear of Akasha. Some judges
and magistrates were also known to
der but freed without charges. By
2000, the Akashas' influence in Mom­
basa had been weakened by family
feuds and extortion by State officials.
Fatuma Akasha,
his four wives.
ted the shoes of his father, took over
the mantle, according to US author­
I
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