Turkish man in Ruto's aborted Uganda trip detained in Nairobi

A Turkish national who was part of the entourage in Deputy President William Ruto's aborted trip to Uganda was Saturday detained by immigration officers and police in Nairobi.

Harun Aydin was detained by immigration officials on landing in Nairobi from Uganda where he had been since August 2. 

Officials said they wanted to question him in regard to his immigration status, work permit and the business he is involved in the region. 

Police also questioned him. Officers from the anti-terror police picked him for further questioning.

They said there was information they wanted to clarify from him.

He was taken to the Anti Terror Nairobi Offices on Ngong Road and later the Nairobi area police station.

 Aydin runs a company known as Unit 2HA Investment Energy Africa Ltd.

He was issued a working permit by the Department of Immigration Services in Kenya on June 30, 2021, and it is supposed to expire on June 29, 2023.

His detention was well known before his plane touched down in Nairobi as most Ruto supporters seemed to know about it and shared it online. 

“The State has been sponsoring stories of Turkish businessman in the newspaper, I have no doubt that if he comes to Kenya he will be arrested even if it’s for few hours just to get to link DP Ruto with a crime or something for political interest. The losers are currently desperate,” said Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen minutes before the incident happened. 

Lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi said he had been denied access to see him allegedly "on orders from above".

Aydin was among those who were held at Wilson on August 2 as they prepared to leave for Kampala.

The rest in the group flew but Ruto was denied the clearance on claims he needed to be cleared by authorities. 

Ruto was to be accompanied by Aydin as well as Eric Ruto, David Langat, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, Kinango MP, Benjamin Tayari and Elijah Rono.

Ruto has since defended the presence of Aydin- a controversial businessman – whose presence is said to have spooked government officials.

The DP said Aydin is a well-known businessman, appearing to downplay the controversy that surrounded the Turkish’s presence as the only foreigner on the foreign trip.

The issue has caused debate in the country, especially after it emerged he bears a similar name with the one charged with terror in Germany two decades ago.

Speaking on Inooro FM earlier this week, DP Ruto dismissed reports Aydin, is a man of questionable character.

He said Aydin is a respected Businessman who has a permit to operate in Kenya and even the Turkish embassy has confirmed the same.

Ruto went on to elaborate that his Monday trip to Uganda was based on personal investment opportunities, wondering why he needed clearance to leave the country.

“Now will I be announcing the whole of Kenya going to do my own business? The Turkish businessman, the Turkish embassy itself has issued a statement saying he is a recognized businessman and has a work permit… There are those who want to destroy saying he is a terrorist,” Ruto said.

Ruto said that as a Kenyan, he is also entitled to privacy and clarified that his friendship with Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni had no ill intent.

Ruto was denied clearance to Uganda after waiting for hours at the airport. 

Confirming the incident on Monday, his office said he arrived at the Wilson airport at 2 pm but was told he had not been cleared to fly out.

“The Deputy President did not fly out, he was told he cannot fly because he had not been cleared,” his Press Secretary David Mugonyi said.

“This has never happened in the nine years he has been in office as Deputy President".

Edited by D Tarus