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The last Known Kenyan Drug Lord: ALI PUNJANI

 

Ali Punjani ( अली पुंजानी ) was born in 1977 in Mombasa, Kenya who went by the street name Ali P. He came from a family of Indian decent; father - Bradrudin Punjani, mother - Gulbanu Punjani. He attended Aga Khan School in Mombasa, a school designated for the 'well off' in the coastal region where he graduated off to a tertiary institution not listed on the public forum. Ali later on went to work for his sister`s husband and was introduced into the business world. This was no normal business as it was alleged that Amin Shamash ( Ali`s sister husband) was involved in illegal importation of sugar that was repacked under known brands in Kenya. It was also alleged that they packed other illegal substances along with sugar and used the established smuggling routes to get goods in Kenya. Following years of apprenticeship in this craft Ali was bold enough to open his own company by the name RISING STAR COMMODITIES.

Ali was able to use his already established connections, smuggling routes and influence to secure his position in Mombasa clearing ports. This would earn him a position in AMIRAN COMMUNICATIONS an Israeli based company where he worked as an agent. This company has ties to security agencies in Kenya such as GSU and AP where they provide various equipment for operations. One could say that this was a well though of move as inspection for goods designated for state owned security agencies is not thorough opening up new possible smuggling routes for the illegal sugar and other illegal substances. The connections with these security agencies also allowed him to get several security personnel under his payroll thereby securing his trade. The security was however short lived as the scars left by the Akasha Brothers were still fresh among Kenyan minds. 

Ali was however an ambitious man and such short comings were not going to stand in his way. It is alleged that he moved to sponsor elections for a Member of Parliament by the name Ali Joho in 2007 for the seat of Kisauni Constituency. Ali Joho won by a landslide against opponent Ananias Mwaboza and an important chess piece was added to the board. Now with political protection, all other security personnel under his payroll fell into line. This played into his favor as he was able to bank a lot of money, build a multimillion mansion and buy exotic cars.
 It was said that his house was guarded by a total of 19 armed guards at all times and that he travelled with a convoy that rivaled the presidents. This is commonly seen with a lot of drug barons as such high status within the drug world is always challenged by up coming Conner boys. A flashy lifestyle is also seen among people within this world probably because the money is just itching to be spent. Ali was able to buy his way into the elite in Kenya as he was spotted with people in parliament such as the Mombasa Speaker, Aharub Ebrahim Khatri. 
Ali would also display his wealth in 2009 following a tragic fire incident that surrounded Faza Island in Lamu that affected more than 2500 people. Ali donated 6 million KSH which caught the eye of the then President Mwai Kibaki. It is safe to say that Ali took after the slain Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar with the flamboyant lifestyle, ties to government and a deep sense to help the needy. One would also argue that this acts whitewashed his irreputable sources of income and also win the hearts of the public. 
In 2010 good fortune would once again shine upon him as he was able to secure marriage with a renowned Indian actress by the name Kim Sharma.  The marriage would last for 7 years up to the year 2017, details of the divorce are unknown. The sun would never set on Ali Punjani as 2 years after the divorce he was married to another beautiful woman by the name Karki Sushmi. 



Ali Punjani would later be named in Dec 2010 as part of a drug ring by the former Minister of State for Provisional Administration and Internal Security, George Saitoti, along with 3 other members of parliament and an assistant minister. The Members of Parliament were;
      1.  Gideon Mbuvi - Makadara Consituency 
      2. Ali Hassan Joho -  Kisauni Constituency 
      3. William Kabogo - Juja Consituency
      4. Harun Mwau - Assistant Minister in Kilome
All of those named were quick to refute the claims more so Ali Punjani as he even staged a protest in Kisumu, Kenya to ascertain his public support. The former minister would not live much longer after that as he died in a helicopter crash which was termed as an assassination. This would play in favor of the drug baron as investigations died down.

In 2013 Ali Punjani would back his ally in government for the Mombasa County Gubernatorial seat, Ali Hassan Joho, who won again on a landslide. This had become known all to well within the country and Ali Punjani would even come out to donate cars for the police force in Mombasa County, Kenya the same year. The County Commissioner in Mombasa County was not pleased with the dealings of Ali Punjani as he even came out to media claiming that these cars were being used to ferry drugs and also claiming that all officers under him were compromised by Ali Punjani. Ali Punjani would later use his connection within the government to get a road named after him owing to the contributions he had done to the coastal community. In the eyes of all other drug barons in Kenya this was a public statement making him a target. The first victim would be his close ally Toni Sanghani who had approached Vijaygiri Goswami (a rival gang member working for the akasha family) with a proposal to leave and join Ali Punjani. Toni would be assaulted at a club in Nyali, Mombasa and left in a life-threatening state where he was admitted in a comatose state. Another man in Ali Punjani`s inner circle was also assaulted and left unalive at Nyali International Hotel & Casino. This pushed Ali Punjani to retaliate. In the new year`s party of 2016 Ali Punjani lured the Akasha Brothers, Vijaygiri Goswami and 2 of their cousins to a popular club in Nyali. Ali`s security personnel assaulted the group leaving them with serious but not fatal wounds. The Akasha Brothers and 2 of their cousins would later show up with their lawyer Cliff Ombeta at Kasauini Police Station to record their statements. Both parties involved would however reach an agreement to withdraw the case. At this time the Akasha Brothers were fighting extradition to the united stated and were out on bond.  


In July 29, 2019 Ali Punjani was Hospitalized in India following a heart condition described as Acute Coronary Syndrome. He was referred to the Asian Heart Institute in India which as per public reports catered for him. After the sentencing of the Akasha Brother in United States for nearly 25 years each an associate of theirs Vijaygiri Goswami decided to become a state witness where he named Ali Punjani as a rival of the Akasha Brothers in the drug trade in East Africa. Following this information on August 13, 2019 Mombasa Police Commander Johnstone Ipara declared Ali Punjani a wanted man citing his connection to drug trade in East Africa. Ali was however in India at time so the police sought a court order to search and confiscate his property in Mombasa. They were only able to seize the property and guns founds plus other drugs of small quantities. He is still a wanted man in Kenya.

Where is Ali Punjani Today? India
Will he return to answer the charges posed against him in Kenya? Highly unlikely as the family lawyer Fred Asige stated that they were unable to secure his safe return without being arrested on arrival

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