Akasha family ‘devastated’ by kin long jail terms in US
The family of the slain drug baron Ibrahim Akasha is in tears following the sentencing of their two sons, Baktash and Ibrahim in the US, where the duo are serving 25 years and 23 years, respectively, for drug trafficking offences.
The family, which is yet to come to terms with Friday’s ruling of Ibrahim Akasha by a US court, criticised the government for handing over the two sons to the US for trial.
Their mother, Fatma Akasha, said it was unfortunate that despite Kenya being a country that is governed by the rule of law; the government had abandoned and allowed her two sons to be tried and convicted in a foreign land.
“Why have my children been jailed in a foreign country, while Kenya has courts where they should have tried and jailed if they were found guilty of the charges levelled against them?” she asked.
Speaking exclusively to People Daily, Fatma said she was still traumatised and had not eaten, nor slept for the last two days, after she was informed of the sentencing of the younger Akasha.
“I am ailing since last Friday after receiving the news about my son. I had hopes that my son would be given a lesser sentence, but now I am devastated.
As a mother, I don’t know what else to do. We did not expect both of them to stay in jail far away from home,” she said.
Fatma said what had remained in her life, after the sentencing of the duo was to seek solace in God, because she had lost businesses and friends due to the stereotyping that comes with the mention of the Akasha name.
“No one wants to be associated with the Akasha family, we have lost business and friends after the two were extradited to the US.
Everyone including our friends have abandoned us. We have been left poor because I depended on my sons for survival,” said Fatma.
The 32-year-old Akasha was on Friday sentenced to 23 years in prison by US district judge Victor Marrero in Mahhattan Federal Court, after he pleaded guilty to charges of trafficking heroine.
The prosecution, led by assistant US Attorney Jason Richman, described him as right-hand man of older brother Baktash.
Richman had on Friday last week urged the court to hand Ibrahim a similar sentence as Baktash since he had acted as his brother’s, right-hand man and had been involved in violence.
The two were extradited alongside a Pakistan National Gulam Hussein, and Indian Vijaygiri Goswami, who were later turned into witnesses.
Meanwhile, anti-narcotic drug activists in Kilifi County have lauded an American court for sentencing Ibrahim.
They said the punitive sentence would hopefully deter other drug traffickers from continuing with their illicit trade in and outside Kenya.
Famau Mohamed Famau, the founder and chairman of the Malindi Maaruf Anti-Drug Organisation said drug traffickers like Akasha deserve such harsh sentences to tackle the drug menace.
“This is a great victory to the campaign against drug trafficking and abuse and I urge Kenyan courts to emulate the US court and impose heavy sentences on narcotic drug offenders,” he said.
He noted lives of young people were in danger as the number of drug addicts was increasing daily yet drug dealers continue carrying out their trade undeterred.
“As leaders in the forefront campaign against drug abuse, we are saddened to see drug traders still trafficking in drugs while the authorities concentrate on the addicts,’’ he said.
He urged the National Police Service and the Judiciary among other State organs to firmly deal with drug barons to save the lives of young people.
