A Mombasa court has released seven Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers who were accused of trafficking 25 kilograms of methamphetamine worth Ksh192 million.
On Monday, December 22, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed that Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Ollimo ordered the suspects to be released on a bond of Ksh500,000 each, with an alternative cash bail of the same amount.
The court also required the soldiers to provide a contact person and report weekly to the Anti-Narcotics Police Unit as part of the conditions of their release.
Seven Kenya Defence Forces Soldiers Walk Free Amid Drug Trafficking Case. Photo: Courtesy.
During the court proceedings, it was reported that investigations into the case are ongoing, with the ODPP awaiting a government chemist’s report to determine the appropriate charges.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations had requested an extension of the suspects’ custodial detention pending the results.
Defense lawyers opposed further detention, arguing that holding the soldiers without formal charges was unconstitutional and that delays at the government chemist should not be used to deny them their liberty.
Magistrate Gladys Ollimo declined to extend the detention, releasing the seven soldiers on bond and scheduling the matter for mention on January 6, 2026, as investigations continue.
The suspects Duke Nyamwaya, Juma Mwinyifaki, Michael Kariuki, Elijah Mbogo Gacog’u, James Ekiru, Abdulrehman Salad, and Abdirahman Abdi Kun were arrested on December 11 in a joint operation by the DCI Headquarters and Mombasa Regional Headquarters.
They are accused of diverting 25 kilograms of methamphetamine, originally seized from Iranian nationals in the Indian Ocean on October 19.
Searches of their homes and workplaces reportedly led to the recovery of additional narcotics and 11 mobile phones.
Previously, the court had ordered a 10-day detention to allow forensic analysis to be completed.
