The High Court has handed a major reprieve to Nancy Kigunzu, widely known as Mathe wa Ngara, after Justice James Wakiaga set aside an earlier ruling that had denied her bond. In a decision delivered today, the judge allowed her appeal and ordered that she be released on a Ksh 500,000 bond with a surety of a similar amount, marking a significant shift from the initial position taken at the JKIA Law Courts.
Justice Wakiaga further directed that Kigunzu must report to the investigating officer every 30 days and warned her against engaging in any similar offence while she is out on bond. The fresh conditions now replace the previous directive issued by Magistrate Renee Kitangwa, who had declined to release her on bond after she was charged.
Kigunzu had been denied bond at the lower court, while her co-accused David Ochieng and Christopher Odipo were granted a bond of Ksh 1 million each, with sureties of the same amount. The trio had been arraigned on August 12, where they faced charges of trafficking narcotics and conspiracy to traffic narcotics.
The prosecution alleges that Kigunzu was found with 18.3 kilograms of cannabis valued at Ksh 6 million, forming the basis of the charges that led to her arrest and detention. Her successful appeal by her lawyer Martina Swiga, now allows her release under stricter supervision, pending the full hearing and determination of the case.
