The main suspect in a drug trafficking case that has kept heads in Kenya swinging over the past fortnight, Nancy Indovera Kigunza a.k.a Mathe wa Ngara, was earlier today denied bail rendering her bid to breathe civilian air freely a total failure.
The suspect who was arrested on 21st August 2023 over allegations of drug trafficking had through her lawyers pleaded with the JKIA Law Court to grant her bail allowing her to be set free temporarily awaiting further court proceedings to determine her fate.
However, the prosecution countered her efforts by submitting proof to the courts in an attempt to paint Mathe wa Ngara and her co-accused as a flight risk, a menace, and a potential cog in the wheels of the ongoing investigation.
“The accused persons be isolated from society so they do not continue poisoning the society in which they live in,” the prosecution said in an affidavit filed at the JKIA Law Courts. “Should the respondents be released before the investigations are complete, there is a likelihood that they will interfere with the investigations and compilation of evidence,” the affidavit read in part.
Despite Mathe Wa Ngara’s assertions that she has a residence within Nairobi which the police know about in a bid to dismiss allegations of her being a flight risk, and that she wouldn’t interfere with the investigation sighting the fact that all known witnesses are police officers which would thoroughly undermine her ability to interfere with investigations according to her, the court was more inclined to submit to the prosecution’s plea.
In her judgement today, JKIA Magistrate Njeri Thuku ruled that Mathe wa Ngara and one of her co-accused, Eugene Otiende, are definitely flight risks based on the drug trafficking evidence leveled against them by the prosecution, leaving the court with no choice other than to rule the two remain detained in the interest of justice.
Surprisingly, the other two suspects in the case get to enjoy relative freedom compared to Mathe Wa Ngara and Eugene.
Teresia Wanjiru, one of the co-accused was released on Ksh. 50,000 bail under the condition that two contact persons be availed, one of whom should be a blood relative, also Teresia must report to the JKIA probation office after 7 days to submit a social report. Her case will be mentioned on September 4, 2023.
The other co-accused, a minor by age was handed over to Kabete Children’s Home through the children’s court in Milimani Law Courts. The mention of his case is set for September 19, 2023.
As time unavoidably lapses on investigation and court proceedings in this scandalous case, Kenyans remain intrigued by the alleged sophistication of an illegal drug ring revolving around Mathe Wa Ngara. Interested parties are eager to find out where the Ksh. 13.4million seized during the arrest have been kept by police as the main suspect through her lawyers, had raised the alarm in a previous court session about the unknown whereabouts of her cash which was meant to serve as exhibit in her case.
“The integrity of the proceedings in this matter are critical assets recovery not a party to this case before you. Who has the custody of that exhibit?” posed lawyers Danstan Omari and Cliff Ombeta of the accused.
Mathe Wa Ngara’s worries appeared temporarily calmed by the prosecution’s response, “We have documents to confirm the chain of custody which will be deposited in court in due course but not today,”
Other items seized during the raid include; cannabis sativa/marijuana, rolling materials, suspected blended bhang, and cigarettes.