A Nairobi court has granted a request by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to detain a Ugandan woman, Hellen Ikareut, who was recently extradited to Kenya to face drug trafficking charges.
Ikareut is accused of trafficking narcotic drugs, following a decision by a Ugandan court in June to extradite her to Kenya.
On Tuesday, Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) law courts approved the DPP’s application to hold her in custody as investigations continue.
The charges stem from a police interception on May 18, 2023, of a suspicious package at JKIA’s cargo terminal.
The shipment, reportedly sent by Ikareut from Kitengela, contained 25 shower curtains hiding a greenish plant material that later tested positive for narcotic substances.
The parcel was allegedly destined for Bahrain and addressed to a man identified as Chris Kagawa Manana Godaibiya.
According to the prosecution, Ikareut fled to Uganda soon after the seizure and ignored multiple police summons.
Kenyan authorities issued an extradition request, which was approved by a Ugandan court on April 15. She was arrested the following day with the assistance of Interpol.
The Nairobi court ordered that Ikareut be detained at Embakasi Police Station for three days to allow a government chemist to weigh and analyze the seized drugs.
During this period, investigators are also expected to record statements from key witnesses.
The case will be mentioned in court on August 11 for further directions.
Ikareut had opposed the extradition, arguing in a May affidavit cited by Uganda’s Daily Monitor that Kenya’s request was premature, legally flawed, and made in bad faith.
She also claimed her rights would be at risk due to alleged systemic issues within Kenya’s judicial system.
However, the Ugandan court rejected her objections, ruling that the charges against her were criminal in nature and not politically motivated.
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