Mathe Wa Ngara: Businesswoman Charged With Drug Trafficking Released On KSh 1m Cash Bail

• Businesswoman Nancy Kigunzu, also known as Mathe wa Ngara, has been in remand since August
• A Nairobi court granted her cash bail of KSh 1 million and ordered her to surrender her passport
• Kigunzu was arrested after detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations confiscated KSh 13.4 million and narcotic drugs in her house

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - A Nairobi court has granted businesswoman Nancy Kigunzu cash bail after being in remand for several months.

On Wednesday, December 20, the Nairobi Court freed Kigunzu, popularly known as Mathe wa Ngara, on a KSh 1 million cash bail.

What conditions did the court give Mathe wa Ngara?

Issuing the verdict, the court ordered Kigunzu, who is charged with drug trafficking, to surrender her passport to the court.

The businesswoman has been detained since her arrest on August 21 after she was charged with trafficking drugs worth KSh 13.4m.

Initially, Magistrate Njeri Thuku denied Kigunzu bail because she was a flight risk due to her alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

The businesswoman had applied to be released on bond, claiming she had underlying medical issues that required constant check-ups.

However, Thuku dismissed her application, arguing that granting the controversial businesswoman a bond was not in the best interest of justice.

"Prosecution has placed strong, compelling reasons. It is not in the interest of justice to grant bond," the court said.

Nany Kigunzu says she has a known residence

As reported earlier, Mathe wa Ngara asked the magistrate to grant her a bail release because she was ill.

Kigunzu, who collapsed on Monday, August 28, during the hearing of her bail application, told the court that her medical condition requires ongoing monitoring and medication and that she is concerned that if she is denied bail, it will worsen.

When she appeared before Magistrate Thuku, Kigunzu denied claims that she posed a flight risk and would skip court appearances.

Although she was detained in the Nairobi Central Business District, Kigunzu claimed, through her attorney, Danstan Omari, that her children were detained in a residential area, Citizen Digital reported.

However, the police were aware of her residence. She further denied assertions that she would interfere with witnesses by pointing out that they were police officers.