The government has launched a move to seize a beach house valued at Ksh400 million.
According to documents filed in court, the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) has already filed an application to take over the house in Nyali which is believed to belong to Ibrahim Abdhal lah Akasha.
However, Director of Anti-Narcotic Police Unit Dr Hamisi Massa argued that the property now belongs to the two sons of the patriarch, Baktash Akasha and Ibrahim Akasha who were convicted by a US court for trading in narcotics.
Najima Baktash (Baktasha's wife) opposed the state agencies’ plan to seize the beach house, arguing that it belonged to her father-in-law and not her husband and his brother.
She insisted that most if not all the properties in the hands of the two convicted siblings belonged to the late patriarch.
High Court Judge Erick Ogola has summoned Asset Recovery Agency official Jennifer Buriti to appear before him on March 3, 2021, to explain how the property is linked to the illicit drug trade.
"Summons are hereby issued for Massa and Asset Recovery Agency to come to court on March 3, to enlighten the court over why these properties should be forfeited to the state," directed Ogola.
Kenyan Police raided the seaside residence in 2015 and arrested other associates of the two siblings, Vijaygiri Goswami and Pakistani Gulam Hussein, and also found Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni who was Goswami's mistress.
The police seized bullets, jewellery, cellphones and vehicles during the raid.
Baktash’s wife has also demanded the release of the items including golden chains.
The family patriarch was shot dead on May 5, 2000, at Red Light Street Amsterdam while his sons are currently serving jail terms in the US.
Baktash was sentenced to serve 25 while Ibrahim is serving a 23 - year jail term after they both pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges.
