Reports have emerged that the presence of a Turkish national, one Harun Aydin, in Deputy President William Ruto’s entourage could have led to the cancellation of his trip to Uganda on Monday.
According to intelligence reports and a New York Times report, Mr Aydin was arrested in the year 2001 for being a leading member of a militant group based in Cologne, Germany, led by Muhammed Metin Kaplan known as “The Caliph of Cologne” who wants to unite the Islamic world in a single caliphate based in a liberated Istanbul.
During his arrest at the Frankfurt Airport when he was about to board a flight destined for Tehran, Aydin had luggage that contained camouflage clothing, a chemical – weapons protection suit, a ski mask, materials to produce an explosive detonator.
He also had in his possession other questionable materials and a CD – ROM with training videos for Islamic holy warriors.
Note addressed to his wife
Aydin was according to the prosecution at that time having a note to his wife and last testament in his luggage.
The 54-year-old Aydin first arrived in the country in 2018, and has made frequent visits to Kenya.
According to reports from the migration offices, the Turk has travelled into the country several times with his passport being stamped more than five times at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
In 2018, Aydin reportedly made 6 return trips to Nairobi from Istanbul, made four trips the following year and in 2020, he made two trips.
Aydin, whose mission to Kenya is yet to be identified, departed with Ruto to Sudan on July 5 and returned on July 7.
On July 23, the Turk reportedly travelled with Ruto to Zanzibar and returned on July 24, through the Wilson Airport.
Raised eyebrows
His close ties with DP Ruto since 2018 and the fact he has accompanied him [Ruto] in all his regional trips have raised eyebrows among state security agencies such as the National Intelligence Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
It is not yet clear why the second in command would be openly engaged with such a questionable figure.
Ruto’s private trip to Uganda was 0n Monday August 2, blocked with government officials including Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua declining to clear him.
Ruto waited for almost five hours at Wilson Airport as his handlers made frantic efforts to get him cleared in vain.
The frustrated DP was forced to return to his Karen home after it emerged that the powers that be could not allow him to leave the country.
Condemned the incident
His allies led by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen have condemned the incident and accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of humiliating his deputy.
Mr Aydin was, however, able to fly out of the country to neighboring Uganda to carry on with the deputy president’s intended business in Uganda.
After fallout with his boss, the DP has been on a mission to craft his team ahead of the 2022 polls
Reports have it that Ruto is in a race against time to come up with strategies of how to win the polls after it became clear that state machinery may work against him.