The United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Kenya Khalid Al Mualla has distanced the UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum from the controversial gold scam.
He told Nation that there was no link between the Sheikh and the scandal that was being investigated by the DCI.
He further dismissed reports about a letter said to have come from the ruler of Dubai regarding the gold consignment in question and conveyed his displeasure at a series of memes depicting the royalty as giving orders to Kenya.
“There is no such letter. It is all fabricated, and even if there were, who in their right sense would believe him? He is the vice-president of the country. There has been no official communication on this issue between Kenya and the UAE,” the envoy told journalists.
The ambassador noted that if indeed there was communication between both countries, he would have been the one to deliver it.
Speaking about a meeting that was reported to have happened between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Sheikh, he stated that the two enjoyed close ties and had not met to discuss the saga.
The ambassador also rubbished claims that the complainant, Ali Zandi, was a relative of the UAE royal family.
The envoy explained that Zandi, who claimed to have lost money in the scheme, was not a citizen of UAE and as such, he could not be related to its one of its rulers.
“I can’t tell you if he (Zandi) exists or not, but who is he? Can anyone show me proof that the gold was going to the ruler of Dubai? I have not seen such a thing and I think someone was working hard to damage relations, which are cordial. Both Kenya and UAE are smarter than that,” stated Khalid.
He added that both countries have investigating authorities and “If there is a dispute between two companies, we are not the ones who are going to determine who is right or wrong. There is the law and if people have facts, they can go to court.”
Kenyan detectives have travelled to the UAE to try and get to the bottom of the saga.
