A company that is associated with a man who was deported from Kenya by the government of former President Uhuru Kenyatta has bagged a multi-billion deal to construct the Ruto affordable houses.
The company known as MHOA Africa Limited is owned by Harun Aydin, a Turkish man who was deported from Kenya in 2021. According to a report that appeared in the Business Daily newspaper on Tuesday, Aydin’s company is part of a joint venture that is now expected to build at least 100,000 houses.
MHOA Africa is in a joint venture with Demir Group. Aydin holds a 50 per cent stake in MHOA Africa and was registered in March 2023, about six months after the inauguration of President William Ruto.
Aydin, who is considered an ally of President Ruto, was deported from Kenya over money-laundering links and illegal movement into and out of Kenya.
Former Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of Government Fred Matiang’i had told the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security on Friday, August 13 2021, that an analysis of Aydin’s frequent movements into and out of the country indicated that he had close links with foreigners involved in money-laundering.
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The Turkish national applied for an investor’s work permit Class G on November 24, 2020, Matiang’i had said. Aydin received the permit on June 25, 2021, allowing him to run Unit 2HA Investment Energy Africa Limited, a firm dealing in energy-related business. However, said Matiang’i, a subsequent examination of Aydin’s work permit documents indicated he was yet to receive formal contract that allows him the freedom to operate uninterrupted.
“He (Harun Aydin) provided the immigration department with a contract stating that he was allowed to work in the energy sector in Kenya. We have, however, discovered that he presented a dummy contract, [and not the genuine approval],” he said.
President Ruto [the deputy president] had then come out to defend the Turkish man and said that he was an investor. Dr. Ruto had alleged that he had helped the Turkish man to secure a multi-billion loan of up to Sh. 15 billion from Equity Bank. He claimed that Aydin was a business ally who was seeking to invest in Uganda.
However, Equity Bank denied having any links with the Turkish. The bank also refuted Dr. Ruto’s claims that he had pitched for a loan at Equity on behalf of Harun Aydin.
“He does not operate and does not have a banking relationship neither does he have a loan with us,” the bank had told the National Assembly Finance Committee.
After the inauguration of President Ruto, Aydin was spotted at State House. He was among guests who attended Dr. Ruto’s State House party.
