NAIROBI, Kenya — The High Court has overturned an earlier decision denying bail to Nancy Kigunzu Indoveria, widely known as Mathe wa Ngara, in a narcotics trafficking case.
Justice James Wakiaga allowed her appeal and granted her a bond of Sh500,000, with a surety of the same amount, under strict release conditions.
Kigunzu had been denied bond by JKIA Magistrate Renee Kitangwa in 2024 after she was arrested with 18.3 kilograms of cannabis valued at Sh6 million. Her co-accused, David Ochieng and Christopher Odipo, had been granted Sh1 million bonds.
Her lawyers, Sophie Nekesa and Danstan Omari, argued that she was willing to comply with all court directions. Advocate Martina Swiga represented her during the appeal hearing.
The case is tied to a wider probe by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), which previously secured orders freezing eleven properties linked to her alleged drug network. Investigators also seized sacks of suspected narcotics, a weighing scale, empty sacks, a diary, and multiple title deeds from her Juja apartment.
ARA claims she ran a “complex criminal mechanism” involving the acquisition, distribution, and sale of drugs, using relatives and intermediaries to register assets.
Courts have already directed that rental income from her Juja apartments be deposited into an ARA account at Kenya Commercial Bank and barred transfer of vehicles registered in her name or associated persons.
In the latest ruling, Kigunzu must report to investigators every 30 days and must not commit any similar offences.
Her legal troubles date back to 2023, when she was denied bail in a separate narcotics case involving drugs valued at Sh18.3 million. She was arrested in Juja alongside an associate believed to have delivered a consignment using a Toyota Sienta.
Although her co-accused were granted bail then, Magistrate Njeri Thuku ruled that releasing Kigunzu was not in the interest of justice.
The latest decision gives her temporary freedom as her cases continue in court.
