The tweets that got blogger Abraham Mutai arrested.. Its not about the Isiolo County corruption scandal

On Saturday afternoon, a blogger by the name Abraham Mutai was arrested in Mombasa and quickly airlifted to Nairobi. There were rumors that the arrest was connected to recent tweets he posted about rampant corruption activities going on in Isiolo County.

Sources say that he was actually arrested for some tweets he posted earlier this month which mentioned Mama Ngina Kenyatta and some other ‘high and mighty’, linking them to ivory trade.

Below are a series of those tweets from Abraham Mutai‘s twitter account which has since been deactivated. They were also posted on his personal blog which also has been deleted.

• It all started in 1974 August when widespread outcry led to ban on ivory trade and all the licenses revoked by govt

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• “At the present rate of attrition, Kenya’s elephants are to be exterminated within a decade.” Screamed Times Magazine in 1975

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• 2. Although the Kenya government banned the exports of ivory in 1974….

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• 2.Margaret Kenyatta, Mayor Nairobi and daughter of Jomo,had by 1975 illicitly sent over 6tons worth $200000 to people,s republic of china

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• Kenya had about 120000 elephants by 1975 & between 10-20000 were killed every year. Ivory trade by 1975 made up of around $10m a year.

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• The profits went to a few merchants in Nairobi and Mombasa who bribed the game department and wildlife ministry, the customs and the police

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• But who were the ivory queens by 1975? Who are these queens who traded and exported ivory yet protected by state?

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• The identity of these ivory queens were among others Mama Ngina and Margaret Kenyatta, wife and daughter to the president Jomo Kenyatta

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• By 1975 there were documentary proof that at least one member of kenya’s royal family had in 1975 shipped over six tons of ivory to China

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• ….This is in spite of repeated denials from the Kenyan wildlife that they havent issued any licensees to deal in or export raw ivory

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• ….This trading was being carried out with the active connivance of the highest officials in the game department.

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• ….During 1974 drought 5000 zebras were poached from the kitengela area boarding Nairobi national reserve. Hides exported

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• In spite of this happening The then VP issued strong statements to condemn poaching and I quote: “No effort will be spare to stamp it out”

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• Moi continued to say “ it only benefits a few at the expense of the country”

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• Surely Moi the vice president by then must have known that the really enemies of the state were the very Government he was working in

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• 4. In 7th August 1974, the ministry for tourism and wildlife announced the gv was taking over the sole responsibility of trading in ivory…

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• 5. …and subsequently the government warned dealers they had up to 20 August that year to dispose off their stock of ivory…

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• 6…Least did people know this was a plan by a few people in government to monopolize the ivory trade and benefit a few selected people

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• 7. On 5th March 1975, customs officials at Nairobi’s Embakasi Airpost held up an ivory shipment due to be flown to Hong kong..

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• 8. The Ivory was 4000kgs worth around $140000. According to customs, the documents were ‘irregular’..

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• 9… But the following day Nation Newspaper reported and I hereby quote “the shipment lacked an export licence”

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• 10. On 29 Dec 1974 a raid on a warehouse belonging to a MOMBASA BRICK COMPANY in Nairobi’s industrial area found around 800 large tusks

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• 11. The 800 tusks weighed about 25-30kgs packed ready for shipment….their value was placed at $1.4million (Mind you it was 1975)

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)

• 12. But within a few days the haul of about 800kgs had mysteriously shrunk to 255kgs worth $550000 .. No one new what happened

  — The Mutai (@ItsMutai)