Eight Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers have been arraigned at the Mombasa Law Courts over their alleged involvement in trafficking methamphetamine valued at over Ksh192 million.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in a statement on Wednesday, January 7, said that the accused, who all denied the charges, face multiple counts, including trafficking, conspiracy to traffic, and storing narcotic drugs in residential premises.
Prosecution told the court that the soldiers were found in possession of varying quantities of methamphetamine. Some counts involve the storage of narcotics in private residences, while others pertain to conspiracy to traffic significant quantities.
The alleged operation is linked to a larger interdiction that occurred in October 2025, when a multi-agency security team, including KDF personnel, intercepted a dhow off the coast carrying 1,024 kilograms of methamphetamine disguised as coffee.
Internal KDF investigations later suggested that approximately 24 kilograms, valued at Ksh192 million, may have gone missing during the offloading and transport process, prompting the dismissal of the soldiers and their handover to the Anti-Narcotics Police Unit for further inquiry.
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During searches of the soldiers’ residences in December 2025, investigators reportedly recovered various amounts of the suspected narcotics, including eleven packages from one accused, five from another, two from a third, and one from a fourth.
While no drugs were recovered from the remaining three accused, communications records, intelligence reports, and witness statements reportedly implicated them in the alleged diversion.
Previously, in December 2025, the soldiers were released on strict conditions after the State could not formally charge them, as the Government Chemist’s report confirming the substances as methamphetamine had not yet been issued.
The magistrate emphasized that, once investigations were complete, continued detention could not be justified solely on the basis of pending lab results. The soldiers were released on Ksh500,000 bonds each, with the alternative of cash bail of the same amount, and were ordered to surrender travel documents, report to investigators as directed, and remain in the country.
Eight KDF soldiers charged
ODPP on Wednesday opposed the accused persons’ application for bond. Principal Prosecution Counsel Brenda Oganda argued that the charges involved sophisticated trafficking operations, that the accused held positions that could influence investigations, and that there was a genuine risk of interference with witnesses or obstruction of justice.
“In a strong submission reflecting the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) commitment to safeguarding public interest, Prosecution opposed the accused persons’ application for bond. Principal Prosecution Counsel Brenda Oganda told the court the proposed bond terms did not adequately reflect the gravity and seriousness of the offences.”
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In a breakdown of the alleged methamphetamine linked to the accused, ODPP noted that one accused is charged with trafficking 2,601 grams valued at Ksh20.8 million; another group faces conspiracy charges involving 14,321 grams worth Ksh114.6 million, with additional counts of trafficking 5,380 grams (Ksh43 million) and 8,941 grams (Ksh71.5 million) stored in residential premises.
Two more accused are charged with conspiracy to traffic 1,319 grams valued at Ksh10.5 million, alongside separate counts of storing narcotics, while two others face charges involving 2,535 grams worth approximately Ksh20.2 million. The court is expected to rule on the bond application on Thursday.
KDF had, in a statement last year, maintained that the total 1,024 kilograms of methamphetamine recovered during the October 2025 operation remains secure under continuous multi-agency protection.
The armed forces reiterated that the accused personnel are under investigation, and that appropriate disciplinary and legal measures will be applied should the allegations be substantiated.
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