The suspects were apprehended on October 25, 2025, and arraigned on January 12, 2026, after what authorities described as a complex maritime investigation. The charges were preferred under Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994, as amended in 2022 legislation that significantly enhanced penalties and enforcement tools against large-scale narcotics trafficking. In December 2025, President William Ruto announced plans to overhaul Kenya’s narcotics laws to introduce the death penalty for individuals convicted of trafficking hard drugs. Under the new proposal, the sale of hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine would be classified as a capital offence. Those who are selling or their children don’t use it themselves; they come to sell to other people’s children,” he said.

Source: The Star January 12, 2026 15:58 UTC