Drug lords Akasha brothers receive family betrayal ahead of their conviction

Image result for akasha brothers

The family and the country await the sentencing on Friday in New York of Baktash and Ibrahim Akasha, sons of slain tycoon and drug baron Ibrahim Akasha.

The brothers pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle heroin into the US from Kenya, among other charges.

Image result for heroin gif

They are believed to have named big Kenyan names who helped them, in exchange for a lighter sentence.

Half brother to the accused, Nurdin Akasha ‘Tinta’, said the brothers had been advised several times against the drugs trade.

Related image

“We individually guided them, told them not to indulge in illicit business, and to be careful, but they never listened. We are not feeling sorry for what they have done. It’s their mistake.

“In Kiswahili we say, ‘ Umechukua wembe ukajikata mwenyewe. Siwezi  kwambia pole’,” he said. This loosely translates as, “You knowing slit yourself using a razor blade. I cannot feel sorry for you.”

Image result for akasha brothers

The family’s biggest worry has however been the stereotyping that goes along with the Akasha name, which has cost them friendships and businesses.

“Not every Kamau is a criminal…If one Kamau has robbed, it doesn’t mean all Njoroges are criminals. It is not so fair when they colour our faces that way,” he added.

Image result for heroin gif

The half-brother confirmed that since the brothers got arrested, he has spoken to them only twice, while they were detained at the port police station.

“I told him (Baktash)  the only thing I would do for him is to pray and the only thing he should do is to God’s for forgiveness,” Tinta said.

Related image

Several months ago, when the family talked about their experience since the arrests, their mother, Fatma Akasha expressed fears they had been ostracised by friends and business associates.

Fatma, the widow of the slain tycoon, said she feared she would be unable to rear all the 12 children left behind by their fathers. Baktash has eight, while Ibrahim has four. The youngest is 13 years old.

Image result for akasha brothers

“The other time we talked was after I helped his children, who are like my own. He called to thank me and I told him it is family. But I told him I don’t want to talk to him again,” Tinta said.

He said it’s the family that is now, not them (Baktash and Ibrahim), “since they never put their children’s interest first”, he said.

Despite all that has been happening to the family, he says he thanks God his life is different. He can drop his children to school, play with them, and be there as their father,  not behind prison bars.

Related image

“My life is now good, I am a happy family man, and so are the rest, but it has not been easy shrugging off the drug trafficking tag associated with my brothers. We do a clean business and live honest and decent lives,” Tinta added.

Fatma, in the earlier interview, had said the sons were the breadwinners of the family and should be brought back to Kenya to face charges instead of “rotting in a foreign jail”.

The 63-year-old mother, who suffers from high blood pressure, said she has always been praying for the best outcome.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *