In today’s court news, Milimani Magistrate’s Court has granted the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) permission to deport Abdul Zahir Qadir, the former Deputy Speaker of Afghanistan, to the United States to face drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession charges.
Prosecutor Victor Owiti, representing the DPP, filed the extradition request, citing a U.S. District Court warrant issued in March 2025. The warrant followed a request by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which sought Qadir’s arrest and extradition to stand trial.
As part of the formal extradition process, the DEA, through the Central Authority of the U.S., sent a diplomatic note to Kenyan authorities, which was attached to the DPP’s application.
Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, delivering the ruling on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, said the court was satisfied with the merits of the application.
“I find that the application is merited. I therefore endorse the warrant of arrest and direct that the individual be surrendered and extradited to the United States to face the stated charges,” Magistrate Ekhubi ruled.
Qadir, who entered Kenya on April 14, 2025, and checked into a hotel in Nairobi, claims he was visiting the country for business purposes. He was arrested shortly after his arrival.
In response to the extradition request, Qadir argued that the charges were politically motivated. He claimed the current Afghan government is using the allegations as a tool to silence him due to his outspoken political stance.
Representing Qadir, the Office of the Attorney General strongly denied the accusations, maintaining that he is a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record. Qadir also emphasized his leadership roles in several civil and academic organizations in Afghanistan, including the Iskawan Group, the Coalition for Support of Law, and the Rana Institute of English Language and Computer Science.
He further noted that he holds a law degree from the University of Pakistan and highlighted his political heritage, stating that his late father, Abdul Qadir—a former senior government official—was assassinated for political reasons. Qadir himself previously served as a general in Afghanistan’s Border Force before being elected to the National Assembly, eventually rising to the position of first deputy speaker, where he was known for his vocal criticism of government misconduct.
