A Nigerian national has been sentenced to eight years in prison by a Nairobi court after being found guilty of trafficking cocaine worth Ksh.890,800.
Milimani Law Courts Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi delivered the ruling, noting that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt against Alabi Tunde Lateef, who faced two counts of drug trafficking.
The court heard that on September 11, 2017, Lateef was arrested near the General Post Office (GPO) in Nairobi’s Central Business District while trafficking 75.4 grammes of cocaine with a street value of Ksh.377,000. On the same day, detectives also recovered 102.7 grammes of cocaine valued at Ksh.513,800 from a house in the Mwiki area of Kasarani, which he was found to be storing.
Four prosecution witnesses, including police officers, testified in the case under the direction of State counsels Wanjiru Naomi and Nyakira Kibera from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
In her judgment, Magistrate Shitubi handed Lateef eight years’ imprisonment on each count, but ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
The ruling adds to Kenya’s ongoing crackdown on narcotics trafficking, with the judiciary stressing that harsh penalties remain a deterrent to the drug trade.
Written By Rodney Mbua
