Court detains Ugandan woman extradited to Kenya over drug trafficking

A Nairobi court has granted an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to detain a Ugandan woman extradited to Kenya over drug trafficking.

Hellen Ikareut is accused of trafficking in narcotic drugs, and a Ugandan court in June ordered her extradition to face drug trafficking charges in Kenya.

On Tuesday, Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) law courts approved the DPP’s request to hold Ikareut in custody pending the completion of investigations.

According to the prosecution, police intercepted a suspicious shipment on May 18, 2023, at JKIA’s cargo shed, reportedly sent by Ikareut from Kitengela.

“It contained 25 shower curtains concealing a greenish plant material, which, upon verification, tested positive for narcotic substances,” the DPP’s office said of the parcel reportedly destined to the Middle-Eastern country of Bahrain for a man identified as Chris Kagawa Manana Godaibiya.

Ikareut reportedly fled to Uganda shortly after the shipment and evaded police summons, per the prosecution’s submissions at the Kampala court.

Kenya then sent an extradition request, which the Ugandan court endorsed on April 15, and Ikareut was arrested the following day.

The DPP says it sought assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for her extradition.

The court on Tuesday ordered that Ikareut be held at Embakasi Police Station for three days to facilitate the weighing and analysis of the suspected narcotics by a government chemist.

Statements from key witnesses are also set to be recorded during this time as the matter awaits mention on August 11 for further directions.

Ikareut previously opposed the extradition, arguing that Kenya’s application was “premature, barred by law and filed in bad faith,” per the Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor, which cites a May affidavit.

She expressed fear that her rights would be violated due to Kenya’s alleged systemic judicial shortcomings.

But the Kampala court dismissed her, saying her offence is not political.