Does the article below imply that Chinese poachers/smugglers will be sent home without serving any time in Kenya?
Wetangula to visit China over Kenyan Smugglers
The Standard
Published on 03/06/2009
By Standard Team
Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula bowed to pressure from MPs and promised to travel to China to help save the lives of six Kenyans who have been sentenced to death for drug trafficking.
This came even as Imams praised the Chinese action as timely and worthy of emulation by Kenya.
But Mr Wetangula said he would go to China to plead with Beijing to commute the sentences to life imprisonment.
This was in response to The Standard story yesterday detailing why more than two dozen Kenyans face the death penalty or life in prison for drug offences. Wetangula told Parliament he would negotiate a prisoner exchange protocol with the Chinese government to enable these and other Kenyans convicted in China to serve the prison sentences in Kenya.
"I intend to visit China to see how we can commute the death sentences to life and see how we can exchange prisoners so that they can serve sentences in Kenya," he said.
The minister gave a breakdown of 27 Kenyans in China’s jails, including 22 "very young girls" and five boys and girls on death row.
MPs expressed shock and outrage at the economic plight of Kenyan youngsters in China and overseas, their susceptibility to manipulation by international criminals and the likelihood that they did not receive a fair trial in China’s courts.
Criminal syndicates
According to the minister’s figures, the five on death row include "a very young boy" who, together with the other 26 Kenyan convicts, was lured into drug trafficking as couriers by "criminal syndicates from West Africa".
The minister did not elaborate on the alleged West African criminals, but disclosed that the Kenyans were students in China and other Asian nations when they were lured into drug crime.
Among those sentenced to death are Peter Amisi Obonyo, 36, who was arrested in Shenzhen, China, Josephine Ochieng Onim, 25, and Grace Lucy Omondi, 57, who were arrested in Guangzhou on different dates and sentenced to death.
Leah Muthoni Mweru Kimani and Christine Nyabera Ongowo, 47, were also arrested carrying drugs in Guangzhou and sentenced to death.
Those jailed for life are Margaret Mudasia Engesia, Oliviah Munoko, Peris Mumbi, Jemimah Wairimu Wangai, Catherine Wambui and Jacinta Wambui Kuria.
Wetangula asked parents to counsel their children before sending them to study overseas. But MPs suggested that Kenyan and Chinese governments are not blameless in the matter.
Mr Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga, ODM) demanded an inventory of all Kenyans held and executed in foreign jails.
"There are more Kenyans held, not just in China but also other countries and some have already been executed. We want the minister to give us statistics of all Kenyans held or executed abroad," said Chanzu.
Ms Millie Odhiambo (Nominated, ODM) alleged Kenya did not give legal support to Kenyans held in China.
"I grew up with one of these ladies (convicts) in Parklands and I am surprised to learn that many of them did not get legal counsel in China. Kenya failed miserably by not availing (sic) legal counsel to her citizens," she said.
Mr Danson Mungatana (Garsen, Narc-K) claimed the Kenyans were tried and convicted due to the "failure" by the Kenyan High Commission in Beijing, which he alleged had not supported the convicts.
Mr Gitobu Imanyara (Imenti Central,CCU) claimed the Kenyans, most likely did not get a fair trial because China’s justice system "does not meet international standards".
Punitive sentence
He said the sentences are punitive and demanded justice and fair treatment for Kenyans in China.
More Kenyans could be languishing in jails around the world for drug-related offences, but the Government is unaware because they use fake documents, or are not registered with Kenyan missions.
Yesterday, Imams backed the Chinese action of sentencing drug traffickers to hang or jailing them for life. Under the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), they urged Kenya to borrow a leaf from China and introduce stiffer penalties to deter drug barons who have ruined thousands of youths, especially at the Coast.
CIPK National Chairman Sheikh Mohamed Idris, Treasurer Sheikh Hassan Omar, Assistant Treasurer Sheikh Hassan Suleiman and Organising Secretary Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa also urged the Government to declare drug sale and consumption a national disaster. They said this would intensify the campaign, save lives and boost the war against HIV and Aids.
At the Coast, the imams said Mombasa, Mariakani, Mtwapa, South Coast, Kilifi, Malindi and Lamu are hard hit and thousands of youths have fallen victim to drugs sold widely in the region. Sheikh Idris said youths were fast turning into zombies and contracting HIV due to drugs.
Yesterday, it emerged that some families of Kenyans held abroad over drug trafficking have travelled there more than twice to see their kin, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. Ministry Head of Press Unit Kiboi Waituru said they organise for the families to travel whenever they request so.
Provide information
"The ministry’s role in some of the cases is limited and there is very little we can do. Maybe we can request the transfer of some of those in custody to Kenya on the demand of one’s family," he said.
Some relatives declined to comment on the matter when reached for comment yesterday, claiming they were traumatised by the jailing of their children.
Report by David Ochami, Cyrus Ombati, Patrick Beja, Peter Orengo
Article at: http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144015881&cid=4&
