The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured a conviction against the former wife of a sitting Member of Parliament. In a statement on Friday, November 22, the DPP stated that Joyce Akinyi, ex-wife of the current Budalangi Member of Parliament, along with two others, has been implicated in a case of trafficking in narcotic drugs prosecuted at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) courts.
“The prosecution team, represented by Norah Achieng, Annette Wangia, and Faith Mwila, presented evidence showing that Joyce Akinyi, together with her accomplices Paulin Kalala (a Congolese national) and Peres Ochieng, were the masterminds of a well-orchestrated transnational drug trafficking scheme,” part of the statement read.
The DPP further said that Joyce Akinyi was also convicted of being in possession of a passport without a reasonable explanation.
According to the DPP, the Judgment was entered in the absence of Peres Ochieng who absconded court when she was placed on her defense.
DPP secures a conviction against Akinyi
Further, the DPP said that the sentence of the conviction will be delivered on 10th December 2024.
In 2019, Akinyi and her co-accused were arrested by anti-narcotics police officers after being allegedly found in possession of 2 kilograms of heroin at Akinyi’s Deep West bar in Nairobi West.
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They were taken to Muthaiga Police Station and later brought before the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts, where they faced charges of drug trafficking for possessing drugs valued at Sh 5,588,580, in violation of Section 4(a) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act of 1994.
Additionally, they were charged with possessing forged passports from the Democratic Republic of Congo, contrary to Section 54(1)(c) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011.
Joyce denies any involvement in selling drugs
Through their lawyers, John Ogada, Dorcas Osabwa, and Elvis Abenga, the accused requested to be released on favorable cash bail.
Justice Christine Njagi later granted them a bond of Ksh 2 million each, with two sureties of the same amount.
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Akinyi has repeatedly denied allegations of being involved in the sale of narcotic drugs.
In a 2020 interview with former radio presenter Jalang’o, who is now the Lang’ata lawmaker, Akinyi stated that she had never engaged in such activities.
She claimed that her ex-husband, a Nigerian national, has been conspiring with certain individuals in Kenya to frame her by placing drugs at her bar and other properties she owns.
The Deep West bar owner came into the limelight when she and her ex-husband Chinedu were involved in multiple public fights.
Some of the squabbles were attributed to child custody and property ownership.
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