• Monday, 23 December 2024
That's My Fuel! Businesswoman Linked To Ksh.17B Diesel Import Recounts 'Abduction By Police'

That's My Fuel! Businesswoman Linked To Ksh.17B Diesel Import Recounts 'Abduction By Police'

The kidnapping of businesswoman Anne Njoroge shortly after she recorded a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reads like a scene from an Olivier Megaton action film.

The businesswoman has been linked to a Ksh.17 billion oil shipment that is at the centre of a dispute between her and two oil companies: Galana Energies Limited and Ramco.

Ms Njoroge told the media on Tuesday that officers who took her statement last Thursday informed her that she was being transferred to a different "office to record another statement."

She said that the men whom she could not identify, asked her whether she was under any medication or whether she required any medicine.

They also took away her phone and demanded the PIN code which she readily gave as she pleaded with them to spare her life. 

"They told me were going to a different office to record another statement, but when I got outside, I found Karanja and a Yuris who asked me if I was on any medication," Ms Njoroge recalled.

"They told me we were going somewhere, and If I'm on any medication, I should tell them."

The businesswoman stated that she was forced into a car immediately after leaving the DCI offices on Kiambu Road, and began driving before going off-road and driving for some time.

"Wakati walichukua kwa gari niliambiwa nipatiane simu na password, na nikawapatia sababu nafuata sheria," she recounted. 

Nkiwauliza mnanipeleka wapi na ni usiku na nikauliza wananipeleka wapi na ni usiku na mbona mmenitenganisha na wale tulikuwa na wao."

As dusk fell on Thursday, Ms. Njoroge said the car came to a stop in an area she did not recognize.

When they came to a halt, another car—a large one in her description—passed by, and she was carted into it, but not before the men in both cars blindfolded her and drove off the road.

"Gari lingine kubwa likaja wakateremsha vioo wakasema tunakupeka mahali lakini lazima ufwate sheria... wakaniambia lazima tukufunge macho tukupeleke mahali tunaenda." She added. 

Tulienda kwa mda kwa rough road, na nikaomba mungu nikisema tafadhali msiniue, mimi ni mama na niko na watoto,"

After driving for what seemed like an eternity, the businesswoman who has laid claim to the oil consignment said they finally made a stop, and several people escorted her into a room.

The room had no windows, in her recollection—only a lone bulb illuminating the room and a mattress to lie on.  There also appeared to be a camera. 

The men who had concealed themselves said they would be needing every morsel of truth from her when they came to take her statement the following day.

"Nyumba iko na matress tu na chain ya kufungiliwa, nikaambiwa natakikana niseme ukweli sababu nikisema ukweli sitaona watoto wangu tena."She said. 

"Nikawaambia kuwa yale nilioandikishwa kwa DCI ni ukweli na nitasimama na ukweli huo,"

She was left inside the room under the watch of two guards. She said they were covered from head to toe, with ski masks to boot.

The next morning, she says that two more people came and questioned her about the oil import. She claims to have stuck to her original statement that she was the legal owner of the consignment that had been sourced from Turkey. 

"Nikawaambia mafuta ni yangu na nimeleta niuze , na sina na niko na documents hadi za refinery wakasema wanaenda kuangalia watarudi," Ms Njoroge said. 

Wakati walirudi ni hiyo siku ya kuondoka tena, wakaniambia hawaoni hatia yoyote na mafuta ni yangu kwa hivyo nafaa niende,"

During her detention, she says she was given enough food but turned down most of it, preferring only to take a 'strong coffee' lest 'they kill her in her sleep'. 

"Niliogopa kukula kile chakula mwanzo sababu nilifikiria chakula kina sumu ama si kizuri," she said. 

On Monday, the businesswoman claimed to have been moved to a police station in Embakasi, where she was reunited with her lawyer, Cliff Ombetta, ahead of her arraignment on Tuesday.

"Nikafungwa uso tena nikasafirishwa nikaenda nikatupwa mahali nilitupwa na ndio wakili akanipata hapo." she added. 

Ms Njoroge was appeared before a Mombasa court on Tuesday.

The management of Kenya Ports Authority, who were on Sunday accused of offloading some of the cargo, has come out and accused Anne of forging documents she used to claim ownership of the consignment.

In a press conference addressed by KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto and Board Chairperson Benjamin Tayari, the management said Galana Energies Limited had the genuine importation documents.

Cap. William Ruto, the Managing Director of KPA said "Ile bill of lading amesema ni yake na ndio hii na ndio ukweli, bill of lading imekuwa signed na shipper kuwa ni yeye, carrier ni yeye things that cannot add up."

KPA says records in their possession show that the vessel was carrying 93,460 metric tonnes of gas oil as opposed to the 100,000 metric tonnes of diesel as claimed by Ann Njoroge.

The gasoil was loaded between 26th and 28th September at Yanbu - Samref terminal, after which she departed for anchorage at Jeddah

The ship departed for Mombasa on September 30th according to KPA.

KPA further says that in it's records out of the manifested 93,490 metric tonnes of Gasoil, 49,091 metric tonnes was destined to Kenya with the shipper being Aramco Trading Fujairah as nominated by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum

The remainder 44,368 metric tonnes was transit cargo for neighbouring countries including Uganda, South Sudan and DR Congo.

KPA insists their are no documents to show Ann's Import and Export Enterprises Limited as the owner of the cargo.

While pointing out inconsistencies in documentation, KPA have questioned claims by the businesswoman that the vessel originated from Azerbeijan Republic and loaded at Jeddah.

The authority says documents in their possession show Yanbu in Saudi Arabia as the origin of the cargo.

Also in question is the date of loading, Ann had claimed that the vessel was loaded on October 9th yet the ship had arrived in Mombasa on October 11th.

They have also questioned why the bill of lading is not signed by the Master of the vessel.

The disappearance of Ann Njoroge, a businesswoman who has been involved in the oil importation business for 33 years comes just two months after another mysterious abduction of Rai Group Chairman Jaswant Rai who was released three days later.

Rai's abduction remains a mystery to date even though subsequent events pointed to the ongoing wrangles in the sugar sector.

 

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