Eight Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers were arraigned at Mombasa Law Courts on Wednesday, facing charges of trafficking methamphetamine valued at over Sh192 million, with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) opposing their release on bond.
The accused – Duke Nyamwaya Nyarige, Juma Mwinyifaki Juma, Michael Peter Kariuki, Elijah Mbogo, James Ekiru, Abdulrehman Salad Jara, Abdirahman Abdi Kuno, and Peter Kipng’etich Tonui – all denied the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Gladys Olimo.
Juma Mwinyifaki Juma is accused of trafficking 2,601 grams valued at Sh20.8 million, while Tonui and Mustafa Salim Johari face charges of conspiracy to traffic narcotics.
A larger syndicate case involves Nyamwaya Nyarige, Dinah Moraa Obwocha, and Elijah Mbogo, accused of conspiring to traffic 14,321 grams of methamphetamine worth Sh114.6 million.
They also face additional counts for trafficking and storing drugs in residential premises, with total quantities valued at Sh114.5 million.
James Ekiru and Abdirahman Abdi Kuno face similar conspiracy and trafficking charges for 1,319 grams valued at Sh10.5 million, while Michael Peter Kariuki and Abdulrehman Salad Jara are accused of conspiring to traffic 2,535 grams worth Sh20.2 million.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Brenda Oganda opposed the soldiers’ bond application, noting that the proposed terms did not reflect the seriousness of the offences.
Oganda warned that the accused, given their former positions, could interfere with witnesses or compromise ongoing investigations.
The court is set to rule on the bond request on Thursday, in a case that highlights the ODPP’s firm stance against organised drug trafficking.