Businesswoman at Center of Ksh.17B Diesel Saga Recounts ‘Police Abduction’
Anne Njoroge, a businesswoman, was abducted shortly after providing a statement to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The ordeal resembles a sequence from an Olivier Megaton action film.
A Ksh.17 billion oil shipment that is the subject of a dispute between the businesswoman and two energy companies—Galax Energies Limited and Ramco—has been associated with her.
On Tuesday, Ms. Njoroge disclosed to the media that the officers who took her statement the previous Thursday informed her that she would be transferred to a different “office to record another statement.”
According to her account, the unidentified males inquired whether she was taking any medications or if she needed any.
Additionally, they seized her phone and demanded the PIN code, which she obediently provided while pleading for 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 claimed that she was forcibly placed into a vehicle shortly after exiting the DCI offices on Kiambu Road, and the vehicle proceeded to take her off-road for an extended period.
“Wakati walichukua kwa gari niliambiwa nipatiane simu na password, na nikawapatia sababu nafuata sheria,” she recounted.
Wale tulikuwa na wao; Nkiwauliza mnanipeleka wapi na nikauliza wananipeleka wapi na ni usiku na mbona mmenitenganisha.”
Thursday evening, as dusk approached, Ms. Njoroge reported that the vehicle stopped in an area that eluded her recognition.
She was carried into another car—a sizable one, according to her account—as soon as they came to a stop; however, not before the men in both vehicles blindfolded her and fled 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,”
The businesswoman who has staked claim to the oil shipment reported that after what seemed like an eternity of driving, they eventually stopped and several individuals escorted her into a room.
According to her recollection, the room was devoid of any windows; it was solely illuminated by a single bulb and featured a daybed for sleeping. A camera was also observed to be present.
The men who had concealed themselves stated that they would require every grain of truth from her on the day they returned to obtain her statement.
“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 confined to the room while two officers supervised her. She stated that they were completely covered, including ski masks.
She reports that two additional individuals approached her the following morning and inquired about the oil import. She asserts that she maintained her initial stance regarding her status as the lawful possessor of the shipment originating 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.
“Kivyo nafaa niende, wakaniambia hawaoni hatia yoyote na mafuta ni yangu ni walirudi siku ya kuondoka tena,”
She claims that although she was provided with sufficient food during her detention, she declined the majority of it, opting instead for a “strong coffee” out of concern that “they would kill her in her sleep.”
“Niliogopa kukula kile chakula mwanzo sababu nilifikiria chakula kina sumu ama si kizuri,” she said.
The businesswoman asserted on Monday that she was transferred to a police station in Embakasi, where she met her attorney, Cliff Ombetta, before her Tuesday arraignment.
“Nikafungwa uso tena nikasafirishwa nikaenda nikatupwa mahali nilitupwa na ndio wakili akanipata hapo.” she added.
Tuesday marked Ms. Njoroge’s appearance before a Mombasa court.
Anne has been accused by the management of Kenya Ports Authority, which was previously implicated in the alleged discharge of a portion of the cargo on Sunday, of fabricating the documents she used to assert ownership of the shipment.
The management stated at a press conference attended by Board Chairperson Benjamin Tayari and KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto that Galana Energies Limited possessed the authentic importation documents.
Cap. William Ruto, the Managing Director of KPA, stated, “Ile bill of lading amesema ni yake na ndio hii na ukweli; shipper kuwa ni yeye; carrier ni yeye; these are inconsequential details.”
According to records in the possession of KPA, the vessel was transporting 93,460 metric tonnes of petrol oil and not the 100,000 metric tonnes of diesel that Ann Njoroge claimed it was carrying.
Gasoil was loaded at the Yanbu-Samref terminal from September 26th to the 28th. Subsequently, the vessel set sail for Jeddah for anchorage.
As per KPA, the vessel set sail for Mombasa on September 30th.
According to KPA’s statistics, of the 93,490 metric tonnes of gasoil that were manifested, 49,091 metric tonnes were destined for Kenya via Aramco Trading Fujairah, the shipper designated by the Petroleum and Energy Ministry.
The remaining 44,368 metric tonnes were en route to Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among other neighboring countries.
KPA maintains that no documentation identifies Ann’s Import and Export Enterprises Limited as the cargo’s proprietor.
KPA, while highlighting discrepancies in the documentation, has cast doubt on the businesswoman’s assertions that the vessel departed from the Azerbaijan Republic and was laden in Jeddah.
The authority claims that documents in their possession indicate that the cargo originated in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, the date of loading is a matter of contention; Ann maintained that the ship was laden on October 9th, whereas it arrived in Mombasa on October 11th.
They have also inquired as to why the vessel’s master does not affix his signature to the bill of lading.
Ann Njoroge, a businesswoman with 33 years of experience in the oil importation industry, vanished two months before the subsequent, albeit enigmatic, abduction of Jaswant Rai, chairman of the Rai Group, which was extricated three days later.
As of now, Rai’s disappearance continues to elude explanation, despite subsequent occurrences suggesting persistent disputes within the sugar industry.
Businesswoman at Center of Ksh.17B Diesel Saga Recounts ‘Police Abduction’
