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Heightened border checks expose fake EACC diplomat

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 10:53 | By
Paul Chacha.

Armed with an East African Community (EAC) staff ID and driving a vehicle with diplomatic number plates, Paul Chacha Gati freely visited the EAC secretariat in Arusha and frequently drove to Kenya through the Namanga border.

On May 5 at around 2.30pm, he drove through the Namanga border in a Mercedes Benz registration number T CD95EAC and failed to stop for a check by the Health, Customs or Immigration officials.

This prompted a chase by detectives from the Multi-Agency Team who later arrested him about 90km away, near Kajiado. The arrest opened a can of worms.

Apart from testing positive for Covid-19, it was revealed that Gati had been dismissed over three years ago on allegations of being involved in criminal activities, and was illegally in possession of the EAC number plates.

The purported EAC staff ID was also forged, according to the detectives. As a result, investigations into the activities of Gati have been launched.

“A probe has also been launched to establish his true nationality. His passport indicates that he is a Tanzanian while the national ID is Kenyan,” a detective told People Daily.

“Despite having been sacked, Gati was found in possession of the EAC staff ID and was driving a Mercedes Benz with the EAC number plates which the EAC now says he was illegally in possession of,” officials said.

“With the car, Gati would manoeuvre his way on the roads as police ignored scrutiny and other offences, including traffic violations,” he added.

Mingle freely Gati has been claiming to be a livestock researcher with the EAC.

And now, there is panic at the EAC Secretariat following reports that Gati enjoys close relationship with the EAC Principal administrator and was at the EAC offices a fortnight ago and freely mingled with the staff.

After he was arrested at Kajiado, he was handed over to the Multi-Agency Team including officials drawn from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

He was immediately isolated at the Kajiado ACK Quarantine Centre and later tested and he was confirmed positive.

Detectives have launched investigations into various allegations including forging EAC staff ID and other documents, allegedly to commit criminal acts.

A police report Kajiado (OB number 45/4/5/2020) read: “Chacha Gati Paul a researcher working with East African Community was intercepted having crossed over from Tanzania without going through clearance at the Kenya-Tanzania boarder and was taken to ACK quarantine centre where his sample was taken for testing.”

Other reports indicate that he is behind the importation of contraband goods and possibly drugs between Kenya and Tanzania.

With the fake diplomatic pass, he has in the past been spared of some scrutiny.

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