Turkish ‘businessman’ Harun Aydin is back in Kenya one year after the administration of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta deported him from the country.
Aydin was on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, spotted rubbing shoulders with Kenya Kwanza alliance’s top echelon at State House during President William Ruto’s luncheon.
Harun Aydin drama
Aydin was part of the entourage that was travelling with Ruto to Uganda on August 2, 2021, when they were blocked from leaving the country.
Ruto was dramatically stopped from boarding a flight to Uganda for ‘not seeking clearance’.
The former Deputy President was scheduled to fly for an unknown mission to Entebbe, accompanied by a seven-man entourage comprising close political allies and businessmen.
Ruto’s team proceeded to fly to Uganda even as authorities stopped the then Deputy President from leaving the country.
Aydin was arrested on August 7, 2021, at the airport when he was entering Kenya from Uganda. Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi confirmed the arrest and said he was with him at the airport when he was arrested.
Sudi said they were ferried together in the police vehicle from the airport to Kilimani Police Station but police decided to lock Aydin in the cell and left him outside.
The Turkish was later taken to Anti-Terror Police Nairobi offices on Ngong road where he was detained over terrorist links.
Ruto defended Aydin as a reputable businessman whom he helped secure a Ksh15 billion loan to set up a business in Uganda.
“Turkish investor, Aydin Harun, is a victim of top-down arrogance bred by patronage and cartels that criminalise enterprise. Importers’ goods declared contraband, Africa spirits closed, Keroche harassed, now investor with valid papers labelled a terrorist. Tragedy of political pettiness,” Ruto tweeted.
Turkish investor,Aydin Harun, is a victim of top-down arrogance bred by patronage & cartels that criminalise enterprise.Importers' goods declared contraband,Africa spirits closed, keroche harassed, now investor with valid papers labelled terrorist.Tragedy of political pettiness. pic.twitter.com/PSXdGcFXlK
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) August 7, 2021
Aydin was ultimately deported from Kenya on August 9, 2021. His lawyer Ahmednassir Abdulahi called out the government over the deportation saying that Uhuru’s administration was using the criminal justice system to frustrate Ruto.
The Turkish was silently deported from the country as his defence team was waiting for him to be arraigned at the Kahawa Law Courts.
Outgoing Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i clarified issues around the deported Turkish ‘businessman’ while speaking in Mombasa where he was meeting the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security.
Matiang’i revealed that the Turk was issued a work permit but maintained that he was still dangerous to the country.
