Eight Kenya Defense Forces officers and one civilian charged with trafficking 24 kilograms of methamphetamine drugs have been released on a Sh5 million bond, with two sureties, or a cash bail of Sh3 million each.
Senior Principal Magistrate Gladys Olimo on Thursday ruled that while the accused had complied with pre-charge bond terms, the change in circumstances following formal charges warranted revised bond conditions reflecting the gravity of the case.
“The investigations are now complete, and serious charges have been preferred. The potential penalties and the nature of the allegations have materially altered the circumstances of this case, thus increasing the incentive to abscond or interfere with justice,” Olimo stated.
The accused include Duke Nyamwaya Nyarige, Juma Mwinyifaki Juma, Michael Kariuki, Elijah Mbogo, James Ekiru, Abdulrehman Salad Jara, Abdirahman Abdi Kuno, Peter Kipng’etich Tonui, and civilian Mustafa Salim Johari. They are attached to the Mtongwe naval base in Mombasa.
The court noted that the accused had demonstrated full compliance with pre-charge bond terms of Sh500,000, presented themselves for plea taking, and maintained stable family ties and known abodes. However, the magistrate emphasized that bond terms cannot operate as a reward for prior compliance.
“Pre-charge and post-charge bond considerations serve distinct purposes. The court is obligated to reassess bond afresh in light of prevailing circumstances at each stage,” Olimo said.
The court considered the personal circumstances of the accused and acknowledged they are family men with dependents.
However, these factors were weighed against the seriousness of the charges, the severity of potential penalties, and public interest in securing the accused persons’ attendance at trial.
The drugs, with an estimated street value of Sh192 million, are suspected to have originated from 1,024 kilograms of methamphetamine worth Sh8.2 billion intercepted in October during a multi-agency operation in the Indian Ocean.
The accused were arrested on December 11, 2025, in a coordinated operation by Anti-Narcotics Unit officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Headquarters and the Mombasa Regional Office.
Juma Mwinyifaki Juma faces charges of trafficking in narcotic drugs, while the other eight are charged with conspiracy to traffic in narcotic drugs contrary to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act.
The accused have been remanded at Shimo la Tewa maximum prison pending pretrial mentions at different criminal courts.
Peter Kipng’etich Tonui, Mustafa Salim Johari, Juma Mwinyifaki, Michael Kariuki, and Abdulrehman Salad will appear on February 9, 2026, while James Ekiru, Abdirahman Abdi Kuno, Duke Nyamwaya, and Elijah Mbogo are scheduled for March 10, 2026.
Defense lead counsel Jared Magolo had urged the court to grant his clients a bond of Sh500,000, arguing that they pose no flight risk and have consistently appeared in court during miscellaneous application proceedings.
Prosecution counsel Brenda Oganda opposed the application, contending that the bond of Sh500,000 could not be considered appropriate given the gravity of the charges.
She argued that there was a possibility of witness interference, given the nature of the charges and the positions held by the accused.
By Sitati Reagan
