Your money will not save you, Ruto to drug barons

The government has maintained that it is committed to fighting drug trafficking in the country and ensure that drug barons are not spared.

Deputy President William Ruto, who said that prominent persons in the country are involved in the drug syndicate, said that the government would not spare anyone regardless of who they are, how much money they have, how much influence they think they have or how much political clout they claim to have in the war against drugs.

Ruto disclosed that the country has put in place a security law that will ensure drug trafficking suspects will not be easily released from police custody ‘simply because they have money.’

Ruto said security forces at the Coast region have be given clear instructions and empowered to deal ruthlessly with drug barons.

He commended the new found partnership with the government of United States (US) in dealing with cartels.

“The combined effort between of our security personnel and other partners including the US and others has given new impetus and new leverage in dealing with this menace,” said Ruto.

The Deputy President stated that government has from the onset been determined to exterminate drug traffickers adding that the assistance from international agencies has brought in new zeal in the fight.

“We did take the position that we going to deal firmly with drug trafficking. Our position has been clear and consistent. What is happening with the new collaboration, it has given us additional leverage and capacity to identify the characters,” said Ruto.

He linked drug business with terrorism terming both as ‘twin businesses’ that feed into each other.

“Money from drug trafficking is used to fund terrorism.”

Ruto’s sentiments come at the backdrop of another strong warning from Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinnet, during a recent visit to the Coast region.

The war on drugs has so far seen Akasha brothers, infamous known as drug lords at the Kenyan Coast, extradited to the US to face drug-related charges.