A Nairobi court has ordered the detention of a Ugandan woman extradited to Kenya to face drug trafficking charges, granting prosecutors more time to complete investigations.
Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) law courts on Tuesday approved an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to hold Hellen Ikareut in custody for three days.
Ikareut is accused of trafficking narcotic drugs concealed in a parcel intercepted at JKIA in May 2023. According to prosecutors, the shipment, reportedly sent from Kitengela, contained 25 shower curtains concealing a greenish plant material that tested positive for narcotics. The package was allegedly destined for Bahrain for a recipient identified as Chris Kagawa Manana Godaibiya.
Authorities say Ikareut fled to Uganda shortly after the shipment was discovered, evading police summons. Kenya issued an extradition request, which Uganda’s courts approved on April 15 this year. She was arrested the following day with the assistance of Interpol and handed over to Kenyan authorities in June.
The DPP told the court that Ikareut’s detention is necessary to allow the government chemist to weigh and analyze the seized substances and to record statements from key witnesses before formal charges are filed. The case will be mentioned again on August 11 for further directions.
Ikareut previously opposed her extradition, telling Uganda’s High Court that Kenya’s application was “premature, barred by law and filed in bad faith.” She claimed her rights would be at risk because of alleged systemic shortcomings in Kenya’s judicial system.
However, the Kampala court dismissed her petition, ruling that the allegations against her were not political and that the extradition complied with legal procedures.
The case highlights ongoing cooperation between Kenya, Uganda, and international law enforcement agencies in combating transnational narcotics trafficking. Kenyan prosecutors have emphasized that the investigation remains active as they work to secure additional evidence before taking the case to trial.
Written By Rodney Mbua
