A Kenyan and three foreign nationals were arraigned at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) law courts accused of running a drug laboratory in Kajiado County.
The accused, Betty Mukami Micheni from Kenya, two Nigerian nationals, Ojukwu Awu and Egwu Ogba Mba, and Mexican national Isreal Alvarado were charged with possessing various precursor chemicals, such as Methylamine 40%, Ethanol, Phenylacetone 99%, tartaric acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetone, and Toluene, among other substances linked to illegal activities.
Additionally, the four were accused of possessing land suspected to have been acquired from the proceeds of crime. Egwu Ogba Mba faces an additional charge of being in Kenya unlawfully.
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According to Prosecution Counsel Ligami Shitsama, the alleged offenses took place between March 15 and September 12, 2024, in Ololepo Village within Oloililai Sub-County, Kajiado, as detailed in a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
All four defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku. Prosecutor Allen Mulama opposed their release on bond, highlighting the international nature of the alleged criminal syndicate and the risk of the defendants fleeing the country due to the severe penalties involved—fines of up to Ksh.20 million and potential prison terms of 20 years.
The prosecution also revealed that Betty Mukami Micheni, the first accused, holds two valid East African Community passports and has travel records to India, where some of the seized chemicals were sourced, according to the ODPP.
The case is scheduled for mention on October 30, 2024.
