[2025] KEHC 10163 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant had established reasonable grounds to believe that the assets in question were proceeds of crime, specifically from narcotics trafficking, based on the evidence of financial transactions, ownership records, and links to individuals charged with drug offences. The court was...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2025] KEHC 10163 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Assets Recovery Agency; Respondent: Irene Auma Odero; Respondent: David Otieno Maira; Interested Party: Motorology Limited; Interested Party: Masudi Suleiman Nchidziru
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Miscellaneous E030 of 2025
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Originating Motion for Preservation Orders
- Outcome
- application allowed; preservation orders granted
- Judges
- LM Njuguna
- Legal Topics
- Proceeds of Crime, Asset Preservation Orders, Money Laundering, Narcotics Trafficking, Forfeiture Proceedings, Interlocutory Applications
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Assets Recovery Agency
Applicant
Irene Auma Odero
Respondent
David Otieno Maira
Respondent
Motorology Limited
Interested Party
Masudi Suleiman Nchidziru
Interested Party
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Originating Motion for Preservation Orders
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant has established reasonable grounds for the grant of preservation orders over the specified assets under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
- 2 Whether the assets in question are proceeds of crime linked to narcotics trafficking.
- 3 Whether the respondents and interested parties are beneficial owners of the assets subject to preservation.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant had established reasonable grounds to believe that the assets in question were proceeds of crime, specifically from narcotics trafficking, based on the evidence of financial transactions, ownership records, and links to individuals charged with drug offences. The court was satisfied that the threshold for granting preservation orders under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act had been met. The absence of opposition from the respondents further supported the applicant's case. Accordingly, the court allowed the application and granted the preservation orders as sought in the specified prayers.
Court Disposition
application allowed; preservation orders granted
Orders
- Preservation orders are hereby issued in respect of motor vehicle registration numbers KDJ 890X and KDR 697W.
- Preservation order is issued in respect of land parcel known as Kwale/Ukunda S.S/2544.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
38 paragraphs
Assets Recovery Agency v Odero & another; Motorology Limited & another (Interested Parties) (Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Miscellaneous E030 of 2025) [2025] KEHC 10163 (KLR) (Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes) (16 July 2025) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2025] KEHC 10163 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes
Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Miscellaneous E030 of 2025
LM Njuguna, J
July 16, 2025
Between
Assets Recovery Agency
Applicant
and
Irene Auma Odero
1st Respondent
David Otieno Maira
2nd Respondent
and
Motorology Limited
Interested Party
Masudi Suleiman Nchidziru
Interested Party
Ruling
1. The applicant has moved this court vide the Originating Motion dated the 14th July 2024 under Sections 81 and 82 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act and order 51 Rule 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules. The Applicant has sought among other orders, preservation orders for motor vehicle registration Numbers KDJ 890X, KDR 697W and Land parcel known as Kwale/Ukunda S.S/2544.
2. The application is premised on the grounds set out on the body of the same and it is supported by the annexed affidavit sworn by Bedford Muriuki which he has deponed as hereunder:-
3. That he is an investigator with the applicant and on the 20/9/2024 officers from Anti-Narcotic Unit based at the Regional Headquarters in Mombasa received some information about a drug trafficker by name Omar Hamisi Mwafrika who they managed to arrest and upon interrogating him, he led the officers to a house situated in Kona Chief Area where he informed the officers that he, together with one Irene Auma Odero were storing the narcotic drugs and in the said house, they managed to recover 10 gunny bags containing long rolls with greenish dry plant materials wrapped with khaki papers.
4. That the suspect thereafter led them to the 1st Respondent’s residence and upon conducting search they recovered log books for motor vehicles KDJ 890X and KBJ 679M registered in the name of Moureen Akinyi Ouma and also copies of charge sheets for Criminal Cases E620 of 2024 Republic Versus Doris Achieng Adik and David Omondi Njeiya and Criminal Case E374 of 2024 Republic Vs Omar Hamisi Mwafrika and Irene Auma Odero.
5. The samples extracted from the 10 gunny bags were submitted to the Government Chemist and were confirmed cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act.
6. That the preliminary investigations confirmed that the 1st respondent is the registered owner of motor vehicle registration number KDJ 890X while motor vehicle registration number KDR 697W is registered in the name of the 1st Interested Party.
7. Further that land known as Kwale/Ukunda S.S/315/ is registered in the name of the 2nd Interested Party and beneficially owned by the 1st adn2nd Respondents herein.
8. That preliminary investigations have also established that the 1st respondent is linked to person who have been arrested and charged with the offence of trafficking in narcotic drugs such as Doris Achieng Adik and David Otieno who were arrested in Kisauni in Mombasa County with the offence of trafficking 328 kilograms of narcotic drugs by conveying them in motor vehicle KDA 176T which registration number is registered to Kenya Ports Authority which false registration was designed to evade being traced by law enforcement.
9. Further than the 1st Respondent is linked to another case of Drug Trafficking involving Glavingtone Mutswenje Luyakha who was arrested and charged with trafficking 119. 55 kilograms of narcotic drugs by conveying them in motor vehicle KDA 202S.
10. That the applicant through investigations lined the 1st respondent to one Ellish Omondi Njeiya who was arrested and charged with the offence of trafficking in narcotics by conveying it in motor vehicle KBJ 679M. the aforesaid motor vehicle is registered in the name of Moureen Akinyi Ouma who is married to the 2nd respondent and she is a co-wife to the 1st respondent.
11. That upon conducting analysis of the 1st respondent’s mpesa No.0714349677 it emerged that between 2020 and 2024 the 1st respondent’s account transacted in funds to the tune of Kshs.76,633,294. 74cts out of which the 2nd Respondent a total of Kshs.1,900,237. 00 from his mpesa line 254722159788 to the 1st respondent.
12. That the applicant further established that between 21/4/2020 and 25/3/2025, the 1st respondent sent a total of Kshs.8,943,450 to Mpesa number 254722159788 registered in the name of the 2nd respondent. Further that the 1st respondent sent a total of Kshs.1,261,750. 00 to paybill number 101217 in the name of Nippon Imports Limited for purchase of motor vehicle KDJ 890X.
13. In view of the aforegoing and having considered the application and the supporting affidavit, I find that the applicant has established reasonable grounds to warrant granting of the orders sought in the application.
14. The application is allowed in terms of Prayers (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6).
15. It is so ordered.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED ON THIS 16TH DAY OF JULY 2025. ............................L.M. NJUGUNAJUDGE16/7/2025