A Kenyan court has rejected an application seeking fresh sampling of exhibits in a case linked to a clandestine methamphetamine lab discovered in Namanga, Kajiado County. The ruling marks a significant setback for the six suspects, including three Kenyans and three foreign nationals, who were arrested in connection with the illegal drug operation.
Through their lawyers, the suspects had requested that an independent analyst reexamine the exhibits, arguing that the initial testing was conducted in their absence. However, investigators opposed the request, maintaining that expert analysis had already been completed.
Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku, presiding over the case at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Court, dismissed the application, stating that Kenyan law does not require the presence of a suspect during the analysis of seized narcotics. The magistrate also advised the prosecution to file a formal request for the disposal of the exhibits.
Defense lawyers have vowed to challenge the ruling in a higher court. The case is set for mention on April 3, with hearings scheduled between April 15 and June 26.
The case stems from a major operation by the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) in September 2024, which uncovered a large-scale methamphetamine production facility on a 10-acre parcel of land, eight kilometers from the Nairobi-Namanga highway. Acting on a tip-off from locals, a multi-agency team raided the facility, seizing precursor chemicals, laboratory equipment, and handwritten formulas detailing the methamphetamine production process.
The arrested suspects include Kenyan nationals Betty Mukami Micheni, Caroline Wambui Muchira, and Francis Maina Gachau, alongside Nigerian citizens Ogba Mba Egwu and Ojukwu Agwu, and Mexican national Alvarado Vera Israel. Investigators have identified Agwu as the mastermind, arresting him at JKIA while attempting to flee to Nigeria with crucial documents, including the lab’s construction plans. His cousin, Egwu, allegedly managed financial transactions, while Israel, a former Mexican police investigator, was suspected of being part of a specialized meth production team.
Authorities believe the operation was linked to an international drug cartel spanning Nigeria, South Africa, Gabon, and Mexico, with suspected backing from Brazilian fugitive Luis Carlos, who reportedly fled to Uganda after the lab’s discovery.
While the Kenyan suspects were granted bond, their foreign counterparts were denied bail and have since appealed the decision. They face charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, and Kenya’s immigration laws.
