In her judgment, Magistrate Thuku affirmed that the prosecution had proven the case “beyond reasonable doubt,” based on evidence that implicated Akinyi in the trafficking operation. The drugs were discovered in a room at Deep West Hotel, which Akinyi had been using as her office, where she gave instructions for the room to be accessed by specific individuals. The court also noted the presence of a digital scale, often associated with drug trafficking, which had been found in the room
Joyce Akinyi’s future now hangs in the balance after she was convicted of trafficking heroin worth Ksh 5.5 million. The decision was made by Magistrate Njeri Thuku at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Court, who found Akinyi guilty alongside two co-conspirators, Congolese national Pauline Kalala Musankinshay and Kenyan Peres Adhiambo.
In her judgment, Magistrate Thuku affirmed that the prosecution had proven the case “beyond reasonable doubt,” based on evidence that implicated Akinyi in the trafficking operation. The drugs were discovered in a room at Deep West Hotel, which Akinyi had been using as her office, where she gave instructions for the room to be accessed by specific individuals. The court also noted the presence of a digital scale, often associated with drug trafficking, which had been found in the room.
Akinyi’s defence, claiming the drugs had been planted by her enemies, was dismissed by the court, with Thuku stating that the evidence, including the simultaneous presence of Akinyi and Kalala in the room, pointed to their involvement. The court also refuted Akinyi’s explanation regarding a forged passport she was found with, which she had attributed to guests leaving documents behind. Immigration officers testified that the passport, in the name of Jackline Glory Achieng Kwendo, was genuine and had been used for international travel.
Further investigations revealed that Akinyi had used multiple passports under different names to travel to several countries. The court also highlighted the involvement of Peres, who remains at large, and their frequent use of aliases for international travel. Audio recordings from Akinyi’s phone, dated just days before her arrest, suggested that she was coordinating further illicit trips with Peres.
