Accusing Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Donde wants daughter released “without trial” from Malaysian custody!
Posted by African Press International on November 26, 2006
Mr Donde’s daughter was arrested recently in Malaysia on drug traficking charges that can put her to death if found quilty.
She was arrested together with another Kenyan girl together with two men, an Eritrean and Saudi Arabian.
The girl’s father, Donde is now accusing the Foreign Affairs Minister Tuju, claiming the ministry is not doing enough to secure the release of his daughter.
The minister has dismissed Donde’s accusation as cheap talk, according to Kenya media reports.
The media has quoted the minister saying, “I personally appreciate the stress that Donde and his family are going through since the arrest of his daughter and I empathise with the family. And while Donde accuses me of not making a statement on this matter, I believe a statement will not solve the problem. The way to solve it is what I have already done- to get in touch with the Kenyan Embassy in Malaysia which has already done a lot to try and help secure the realise of his daughter Deborah.” The minister said Kenyan Embassy officials in Malaysia have already visited the girl and made contacts with her college who together have hired a lawyer to represent her. We have also instructed the Embassy to hire another lawyer if need arises.”
When a student or any national is arrested on capital crimes, it should not be the responsibility of the country of origin to fight for the release, but the country of origin should help to avail facts that led to the arrest and give the family moral support.
The law must take its course to ensure that others learn from it. If students who travel abroad for education start dealing in drugs, it gives their home countries a bad name and also an encouragement to other new students that if one deals in drugs abroad, the country of origin will fight for the suspected criminal to be released without punishment..
In order to ensure that students take their education abroad seriously and not involve in themselves in crimes, families should be made answerable for their children’s deeds by being made to meet all the cost incurred during the process to assist the family.
In a case like of the Donde family, we do not see that the Kenya government has done something wrong if what the minister is saying has been done. That is the proper way to go.
The family should appreciate that the embassy will receive the girl’s daughter when the mother travels to Malaysia.
Malaysian law which is tough on drugs should be allowed to deal with drug dealers in order to reduce drug-traficking in the region.
We are not judging Donde’s daughter and the others arrested with her. We do not know if they were having the drugs when they were arrested. But if the Malaysian authorities have got the evidence, then they have the right to try the 4 arrested and if found guilty, must be punished according to the law.
By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN