Eight Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers charged with trafficking methamphetamine valued at more than Sh192 million in Court on January 7, 2026. Photo Courtesy. 
By Andrew Mbuva
A Mombasa Law Court is today expected to rule on a bond application by eight Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers charged with trafficking methamphetamine valued at more than Sh192 million, in a case that has underscored the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) tough stance on organised drug crime.
The ruling follows a spirited objection by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which argued that releasing the suspects on bond would pose risks to witnesses and ongoing investigations.
The eight soldiers were yesterday arraigned before Senior Principal Magistrate Gladys Olimo, where they all pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of trafficking and conspiracy to traffic narcotic drugs. Those charged are Duke Nyamwaya Nyarige, Juma Mwinyifaki Juma, Michael Peter Kariuki, Elijah Mbogo, James Ekiru, Abdulrehman Salad Jara, Abdirahman Abdi Kuno and Peter Kipng’etich Tonui.
Prosecutors told the court that the accused were found in possession of varying quantities of methamphetamine, with both individual and joint charges reflecting what they described as a well-coordinated and sophisticated trafficking operation.
Juma Mwinyifaki Juma faces a charge of trafficking 2,601 grams of methamphetamine valued at Sh20.8 million. Peter Kipng’etich Tonui and Mustafa Salim Johari were charged with conspiracy to traffic narcotic drugs.
Duke Nyamwaya Nyarige, Dinah Moraa Obwocha and Elijah Mbogo were jointly charged with conspiracy to traffic 14,321 grams of methamphetamine valued at Sh114.6 million. The trio also face additional counts of trafficking 5,380 grams worth Sh43 million and a further 8,941 grams valued at Sh71.5 million, allegedly by storing the drugs in residential premises.
James Ekiru and Abdirahman Abdi Kuno were charged with conspiracy to traffic 1,319 grams of narcotic drugs valued at Sh10.5 million and face separate counts of trafficking by storing the drugs in a house.
Michael Peter Kariuki and Abdulrehman Salad Jara were charged with conspiracy to traffic 2,535 grams of methamphetamine valued at approximately Sh20.2 million.
Opposing the bond application, Principal Prosecution Counsel Brenda Oganda told the court that the proposed bond terms did not reflect the gravity and seriousness of the offences. She further submitted that, given the nature of the case and the positions previously held by the accused, there was a real risk of interference with witnesses and possible compromise of ongoing investigations.
The magistrate is expected to deliver a ruling on the bond application later today, as the case continues to draw national attention over the alleged involvement of security officers in high-value narcotics trafficking.
