Blow to suspects in Namanga meth lab case as court rejects bid for fresh exhibit test
A court has dismissed an application seeking fresh sampling of exhibits in a case linked to a clandestine methamphetamine lab discovered in Namanga, Kajiado County.
The suspects involved in the case through their lawyers had requested an independent analyst to reexamine the exhibits, arguing that initial samples were taken in their absence.
However, investigators opposed the request, stating that expert analysis had already been conducted.
JKIA Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku ruled that the application lacked merit, stating that the law does not require a suspect’s presence during the analysis of seized narcotics.
The court also advised the prosecution to file a formal request for the disposal of the exhibits.
Defense lawyers protested the ruling and vowed to seek redress from a higher court with the case set to be mentioned on April 3, and hearings set for various dates between April 15 and June 26.
How police uncovered Namanga meth lab tied to global drug cartel
In September 2024, a major operation by the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) led to the discovery of a large-scale methamphetamine production facility.
Acting on a tip-off from the locals in Kajiado, a multi-agency team raided the lab, located on a 10-acre parcel of land, eight kilometers from the Nairobi-Namanga highway.
The team found an active drug production setup with precursor chemicals, laboratory equipment, and handwritten formulas detailing the meth-making process.
Six individuals were arrested in connection with the operation, among them Kenyan nationals Betty Mukami Micheni, Caroline Wambui Muchira, and Francis Maina Gachau.
Three foreign nationals, Nigerian citizens Ogba Mba Egwu and Ojukwu Agwu, as well as Mexican national Alvarado Vera Israel, were also arrested.
Investigators identified Agwu as the mastermind.
He was arrested at JKIA while attempting to flee to Nigeria in possession of crucial documents, including the original land sale agreement and the lab’s construction plan.
His cousin, Egwu, allegedly managed financial transactions for the operation.
Israel, a former Mexican police investigator, was apprehended at JKIA while trying to board a flight home.
Authorities suspect he was part of a specialized team of “cooks” hired to manufacture methamphetamine. Two other suspected meth producers, Carlos Pedro and Ignacio Morales Alvarez, remain at large.
Investigations have also linked the operation to an international drug cartel with ties to Nigeria, South Africa, Gabon, and Mexico.
Authorities suspect the network was backed by Brazilian fugitive Luis Carlos, who reportedly fled to Uganda after the lab was exposed.
Kenyan suspects Micheni and Muchira were released on bond, while their foreign counterparts were denied bail.
They have since appealed at the High Court, where a ruling is pending.
The accused face charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, and Kenya’s immigration laws.