Businesswoman Nancy Kigunzu, otherwise known as ‘Mathe wa Ngara’ in the streets, has been denied bail in a drug trafficking case.
The court stated in its decision on the bail application that the businesswoman is a flight risk due to her involvement in drug trafficking.
Magistrate Njeri Thuku ruled that granting her bond was not in the best interests of justice.
The businesswoman and the third accused, Eugine Jumbo, who was also denied bail, will remain in custody until the drug trafficking case is heard and decided.
Meanwhile, her co-accused, Teresia Wanjiru, has been granted Ksh. 50,000 cash bail. She will, however, be required to provide contact information for two people, one of whom is a blood relative, and to appear before the JKIA law courts within seven days to file a social report.
‘Mathe Wa Ngara’ has been detained since her arrest on August 21 in connection with a drug bust in Nairobi’s Ngara area, where Ksh.13.4 million in cash was also seized.
Kigunzu, who collapsed during the bail hearing on Monday, told the court that her medical condition requires constant monitoring and medication, and that she is afraid that if she is denied bail, her condition will worsen.
Appearing before magistrate Njeri Thuku, Kigunzu dismissed allegations that she is a flight risk and that she will abscond court proceedings.
Through her lawyer Danstan Omari, Kigunzu said although she was arrested in Nairobi CBD, her children were arrested in a residential house, arguing that she has a home and the police offers know.
She further refuted claims that she will interfere with witnesses in the case, saying that all the witnesses are police officers and she has no powers to interfere with them.
Also present in court were Kigunzu’s co-accused Teresia Wanjiru and two others, who also sought to be released on bail.
Through their lawyers, the accused persons say that the prosecution has not established compelling reasons to warrant their stay in remand.
