Seven soldiers accused of trafficking methamphetamine worth Sh192 million were on Monday released on bond by a Mombasa court, which declined to extend their custodial detention.
Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Ollimo ordered each suspect to be released on a Sh500,000 surety bond or an equivalent cash bail, provide one contact person, and report weekly to the Anti-Narcotics Police Unit.
The suspects, Duke Nyamwaya, Juma Mwinyifaki, Michael Kariuki, Elijah Mbogo Gacog’u, James Ekiru, Abdulrehman Salad, and Abdirahman Abdi Kuno, allegedly trafficked 25 kilograms of methamphetamine packed in whitish crystalline packets.
Prosecutors told the court that investigations were ongoing, with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) awaiting a government chemist’s report to determine the appropriate charges. Principal Prosecution Counsel Brenda Oganda and Yassir Mohammed said charging decisions are strictly guided by scientific evidence and constitutional requirements, noting that investigators and the prosecution do not have the mandate to classify suspected narcotics.
Detective Issack Njoroge of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations requested that the suspects’ custody be extended pending the chemist’s analysis, expected by 3 January. The prosecution argued that the report was critical in establishing the nature of the substance and framing the charges.
Defence lawyers opposed further detention, insisting that continued custody without formal charges would be unconstitutional and that delays at the government chemist could not justify restricting the suspects’ liberty.
In her ruling, Hon. Ollimo sided with the defence, releasing the soldiers on bond and directing that the case be mentioned on 6 January 2026 for further directions as investigations continue.
