Kenyans jailed and facing charges overseas

Kenyans have over the years left Kenya in pursuit of opportunities and greener pastures abroad. While life abroad is associated with success, some Kenyans have found themselves on the wrong side of the law in their host countries, with a host of them ending up in court rooms for different reasons.

Among the Kenyans who have faced this predicament is Quincy Timberlake, former husband of renowned media personality, Esther Arunga.

This list highlights both the challenges faced by Kenyans abroad and the diplomatic efforts made to address their legal predicaments.

Quincy Timberlake

Quincy Zuma Wambitta Timberlake alias ‘Quincy Timberlake’ was found guilty of manslaughter in an incident surrounding the death of his son Sinclair.

The former presidential aspirant is alleged to have punched his son in the stomach and thereafter pushed him against a wall.

While delivering the verdict, the judge described the act as “brutal and incomprehensible” and sentenced him to 11 years in prison in an Australian court.

Quincy Zuma Wambitta Timberlake. PHOTO/TIMBERLAKE

However, the judge highlighted that Timberlake will only be eligible for parole after serving more than nine years in jail following reports that he suffers from psychosis and schizophrenia.

Who is he?

Quincy Zuma Wambitta Timberlake was born in Homa Bay in 1980. Quincy Timberlake rose to fame after he declared aspirations to vie for the presidency under the Platinum Centralizer and Unionist Party of Kenya (PlaCenta Party of Kenya).

However, he did not make it to the ballot due to legal issues with a church he co-owned with Joseph Hellon.

The Akasha Brothers

The Akasha brothers, Baktash and Ibrahim Akasha, were implicated in an international drug trafficking case. They were alleged to have been responsible for shipment of tons of narcotics.

Baktasha Akasha Abdalla alias ‘Baktash Akasha’ was found guilty of aiding in distribution of narcotics and weapons of mass destruction.

Akasha was also accused of distributing methamphetamine, using machine guns and destructive devices to aid drug trafficking crimes.

It was alleged that the brothers bribed Kenyan officials in a bid to evade justice.

Baktash Akasha and Ibrahim Akasha in court session, Mombasa. — Baktash Akasha (left) and Ibrahim Akasha (right) attend a court session in Mombasa. PHOTO/NATION

While delivering the sentence, Manhattan U.S Attorney General S, Berman said “Baktash Akasha led a massive drug trafficking organization responsible for shipping tons of narcotics, and the ingredients to make tons more, around the world.”

As a result, Baktash Akasha was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Akasha was convicted for similar charges to his brother’s.

Ibrahim was sentenced to 23 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to trafficking heroine and methamphetamine and engaging in other crimes.

The two brothers were arrested in Mombasa, Kenya after US special agents DEA posed as drug traffickers to hoodwink the Akashas to sell Heroine and Methamphetamine to them.

The Akasha family

The Akasha family is a prominent family in Mombasa County that allegedly led a drug trafficking syndicate in Kenya for nearly two decades.

It is claimed that the Akasha brothers took over the drug syndicate from their patriarch Ibrahim Akasha following his murder in 2000.

Kevin Kang’ethe

Kevin Kang’ethe also joins the long list of Kenyans facing charges abroad.

Kevin is accused of murdering his girlfriend Margaret Mbitu in the United States before flying back to Kenya in attempt to flee from law enforcers.

Margaret Mbitu was found dead in a carpark at Boston’s Logan Airport in November 2023.

Following Mbitu’s death, the Kenya police pursued the whereabouts of Kevin Kang’ethe in Kenya after it was reported that he came back to Kenya.

Accused murder suspect Kevin Kangethe. PHOTO/DCI

He was arrested in January 2024 and taken to Muthaiga Police station where he escaped after staying there for one week.

Also Read: 6 Reasons Why Murder Suspect Kevin Kangethe was Denied Bail

He was however rearrested and deported to the United States by the Kenyan Authorities to face murder charges against Margaret Mbitu.

Leonard Mwithiga

Leonard Mwithiga found himself in the corridors of justice in the United States after it was alleged that he plotted to kill his wife.

The banker was allegedly searching for a hitman to eliminate his wife following a series of court battles.

Police got wind of Mwithiga’s intentions after one of Mwithiga’s employees informed them that his boss had tasked him to look for a hitman.

Following the disclosure, the police went undercover and pursued Mwithiga before he executed his plan.

Mwithiga was later arrested and is now facing several charges including criminal attempt/intimidation of a witness, conspiracy to commit murder and criminal attempt and murder with special circumstances.

Stephen Munyako

Stephen Munyako popularly known by his friends as ‘stevo’ is set to face capital punishment at Saudi Arabia following the death of Abdul Halim Saleh.

He was charged with the murder of Saleh who was his colleague at work after an altercation between them that turned tragic.

Reports indicated that he was engaged in a fight while working as a warehouse manager with Abdul Halim Mujahid Markad Saleh whose family currently lives in Saudi Arabia.

Following the crime, he received a five-year imprisonment, but the Yemeni family later appealed the sentence in Shariah court, citing the right to retaliate.

Also Read: Ex-NMG Journalist Pleads with Kenyans Again as Son’s Execution Nears

Initially, he was jailed for manslaughter, but the upgraded an appeal by the deceased’s family saw him handed a death sentence after charges were to murder.

Kweyu’s family had a sigh of relief after learning that Steve will be set free if he raises Ksh 150 million required for the blood money known as Diya in Islamic law necessary to secure his release.

Speaking to the press on July 24, the chairman of the committee dubbed ‘bring back stevo committee’ Joseph Odindo, revealed that the family had raised Ksh11 million out of the 150 million required.

As such Stevo’s family has reappealed to the public to help them raise the remaining cash.

Stephen’s execution which was initially slated for May 15, 2024, was postponed to November 26, 2024, after the Kenyan Government held talks with the Saudi Government.