Eight Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers have been charged with trafficking methamphetamine worth more than KSh 192 million.
Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Gladys Olimo at the Mombasa Law Courts on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, all the disciplined forces officers denied the charges.
According to the prosecution, the suspects were found in possession of varying quantities of methamphetamine and operated from residential premises used to conceal the drugs.
The first suspect was charged with trafficking 2,601 grams of narcotics worth Ksh20.8 million, while a second suspect was accused of conspiring to traffic the drugs. A third, non-KDF suspect also faced conspiracy charges.
The third and the fourth suspects were accused of conspiring to traffic 14,321 grams valued at Ksh114.6 million, alongside two more counts of trafficking 5,380 grams (Ksh43 million) and 8,941 grams (Ksh71.5 million). A non-KDF suspect also faced charges similar to the third and fourth suspects.
The fith and sixth suspects were accused of conspiring to traffic 1,319 grams of narcotics valued at Ksh10.5 million, while Suspects 7 and 8 were charged with trafficking 2,535 grams worth Ksh20.2 million.
Despite the accused denying the charges, prosecution counsel Brenda Oganda from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) opposed the accused persons’ release on bond, arguing the gravity of the offences warranted continued detention.
According to the ODPP statement, prosecution counsel Oganda told the court that, given their military backgrounds and networks, there was a real risk of witness interference and compromise of investigations if they were freed.
Over a month ago, KDF personnel were involved in a multi-agency security operation in which a dhow was intercepted while transporting 1,024 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Following this intercept, some of the KDF officers were accused of allegedly stealing some of the drugs.
The ODPP’s opposition to the accused persons’ release on bond comes two weeks after the defense lawyers secured the release of 7 soldiers, as the ODPP could not lawfully approve charges without a confirmation from the government chemist that the confiscated substances were narcotics.
The court will rule on the bond application on Thursday, determining whether the accused will remain in custody or be released under stringent conditions.
