Seven in court over manufacturing medicinal substances

Francis Maina, Samuel Kamau, Henry Mukunga, Saida Mariam, Lucy Njeri, Diana Wanjiku, Catherine Nduta at the Milimani law courts on 6/18/2019. [George Njunge]

Seven suspects were charged with manufacturing medicinal substances without a licence.

Catherine Nduta, Diana Wanjiku, Lucy Njeri, Saida Mariam, Henry Mukhwana, Samuel Kamau and Francis Maina were arrested Monday after inspectors from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board raided clinics in Nairobi and seized a variety of herbal medicines.

The seven, who were arrested at the Murugu Herbal and Nutritional Centre on Moi Avenue, faced several additional charges, including selling unregistered drugs contrary to the PPB rules and supplying poison in containers that were not labeled in the prescribed manner.

The seven pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Their lawyer, Peter Mutuku Mbithi, told Milimani Senior Resident Magistrate Zainabu Abdul the accused were young Kenyans trying to earn a living, and pleaded for lenient bond and bail terms.

Ms Zainabu released each of the suspects on a Sh500,000 bond or Sh300,000 cash bail. Hearing was set for July 16.