In a dramatic decision by a Nairobi court, businesswoman Joyce Akinyi has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for trafficking heroin worth Sh5.5 million.
Akinyi, who owns the Deep West Resort, was convicted alongside Congolese national Paulin Kalala Musankinshay, who received a 10-year sentence.
The court also imposed a Sh9 million fine on both Akinyi and Kalala.
The decision, delivered by JKIA Magistrate Njeri Thuku, comes after a lengthy investigation that revealed Akinyi’s involvement in a sophisticated drug trafficking operation.
The heroin was uncovered during a police raid at the Deep West Resort in July 2019, hidden in a shoe rack in a room Akinyi used as an office to conduct her illicit activities.
“The evidence is clear. The drugs were found in a room Akinyi used exclusively, and the presence of a digital scale is a strong indication of drug trafficking,” Magistrate Thuku remarked in her judgement.
The court noted the presence of a Tabita Digital Scale, a precise weighing device, which, although small enough to fit into a handbag, is commonly associated with the illegal drug trade.
Akinyi and Kalala were both present in the room during the search, and the court dismissed their claims that the drugs were planted by Akinyi’s ex-husband or others envious of her success.
“Akinyi and Kalala were in the room together, and they had exclusive possession of the drugs. Their defense lacks merit,” the magistrate stated.
Further scrutiny revealed Akinyi’s involvement in international travel under multiple false identities.
The court found that Akinyi had four different passports, including a Kenyan passport belonging to Jackline Glory Achieng Kwendo, which she could not adequately explain.
The forged passport, along with others linked to drug trafficking activities, was found during Akinyi’s arrest in 2019.
In addition to the heroin, evidence presented by officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit also detailed Akinyi’s use of a variety of travel documents, further complicating her case.
She and her co-accused, Peres Adhiambo, who remains at large, allegedly used these documents to travel internationally, engaging in trafficking operations in multiple countries.
Akinyi’s defense that the drugs found in her room were planted by enemies failed to convince the court.
“The drugs were found under circumstances that are highly inconsistent with Akinyi’s claims. There is no evidence of any malicious planting by her ex-husband or others,” said Magistrate Thuku.
The court also addressed the case of Peres, who is still a fugitive, highlighting her involvement in trafficking under different aliases.
Evidence from the Immigration Department revealed that Peres had traveled across borders with various passports, including one issued by Congo, which was used for travel to destinations such as Dubai and Qatar.
During the trial, audio messages retrieved from Akinyi’s phone provided further insight into her role in the operation.
In the messages, sent to Peres, Akinyi mentioned a planned trip to Kampala just days before her arrest, confirming her active participation in the drug network.
While the sentencing brings some measure of closure to the case, the authorities have vowed to intensify efforts to track down the fugitive Peres.
As of now, Akinyi and Kalala’s sentences stand as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of engaging in illegal drug trafficking activities.
With the Sh9 million fine in place, the ruling serves as both a legal precedent and a stern warning against the dangerous world of narcotics trafficking in Kenya and beyond.
