Inside biggest drug empire: the rise and fall of Mathee wa Ngara

Mathe wa Ngara-Nancy Kigunzu in court over drug trafficking. [File, Standard] In what could be one of the most significant breakthroughs in Kenya's ongoing battle against drug trafficking, the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has lifted the veil on the alleged expansive criminal drug empire of Nancy Indoveria Kigunzu, alias Mathee wa Ngara. This development has sent shockwaves through the nation, exposing a sophisticated network of illicit activities that have allegedly fueled her rise to wealth and prominence. Known for her lavish lifestyle and massive fortune, Kigunzu, an alleged cannabis (bhang) seller, has managed to operate under the radar for over a decade despite persistent rumors and whispers surrounding the true source of her income. Her opulent lifestyle, characterized by luxurious properties scattered across multiple counties, has long baffled observers. How did a woman who outwardly appeared to be a small-time businesswoman ascend to such heights of wealth and influence? For years, this question lingered in the minds of the public, with little concrete evidence to explain her meteoric rise. Recently, in a forfeiture suit filed before the Milimani Anti-Corruption High Court, the ARA has pulled back the curtain on this enigma, unveiling a shocking network of criminal activities that allegedly enabled Kigunzu to amass her fortune. Through meticulous investigations, including a series of high-profile raids on properties linked to her in Juja, Ngara, and Thika, a multi-agency team of investigators has uncovered what they describe as a sprawling narcotics operation coupled with an elaborate money-laundering scheme designed to conceal the illicit origins of her wealth. Before her name became synonymous with the illegal drug trade in 2023, when she was first arrested and charged, Kigunzu was a relatively obscure figure. However, her sudden and unexplained rise to wealth sparked widespread curiosity and suspicion. What many did not know at the time was that Kigunzu allegedly ran a thriving narcotics business in Ngara, dealing primarily in cannabis, and used the proceeds from this illicit trade to acquire a staggering multi-million estate portfolio with properties spread across Kenya. Lifestyle and assets According to Bernard Gitonga, the lead investigating officer from the ARA, Kigunzu's wealth had long been a subject of speculation. "Her lifestyle and assets raised red flags for years," Gitonga stated in an affidavit filed in court. "Our investigation has now revealed the dark underbelly of her fortune-a sophisticated criminal enterprise built on the trafficking and sale of narcotic drugs." Court documents show that the state agency opened an inquiry file on August 23, 2023, with the aim of investigating and tracing any assets, benefits, and profits that Kigunzu may have acquired through her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. As the investigation deepened, the ARA uncovered an extensive network involving multiple properties, bank accounts, and a web of individuals who allegedly helped shield the true ownership of these assets. Investigators claim that Kigunzu's illicit activities were built on the sale of drugs, including cannabis, drug-laced sweets, and even cookies, which were allegedly sold to unsuspecting buyers, including vulnerable populations in urban slums and youth-heavy areas. In his affidavit, Gitonga detailed how Kigunzu devised complex mechanisms for acquiring, trafficking, distributing, and selling narcotic drugs. To further obscure her activities, she reportedly registered her multi-million-shilling assets under the names of close relatives and hired mules-individuals tasked with facilitating her operations. Among those named in the investigation are George Jumba Inguti, Brince Sande Odanga, Bernard Avesa Manase, Judith Makungu, and Scholastica Wambui Kibathi. These individuals are believed to have played key roles in concealing the true ownership of her assets and aiding in the distribution of her illicit products. The investigation gained momentum with a series of raids on properties linked to Kigunzu in Juja and Ngara. These operations uncovered a trove of damning evidence, including hundreds of kilograms of illegal narcotics, drug-laced sweets and cookies, boxes of Oris Slim cigarettes and Manchester Super cigarettes suspected to contain nicotine mixed with bhang, and millions of shillings in cash hidden in sacks. Additionally, investigators recovered a slew of documents that confirmed the suspicious acquisition of properties across the country. A particularly significant find came during a raid on an apartment in the Mastore area of Juja, within Kiambu County, which was allegedly used as a supply den for narcotics trafficking. Hidden away in the kitchen, officers from the ARA and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) discovered a treasure trove of documents detailing Kigunzu's multi-million estate empire. Significant influence These documents, coupled with the discovery of manufacturing materials for drug-laced sweets, cookies, and cigarettes, painted a chilling picture of an empire built on crime. Kigunzu's illegal activities first came to public attention following a dramatic raid on the night of August 23, 2023, when a multi-agency team led by the Anti-Narcotics Unit targeted her drug den in the Kariua slums of Ngara, Nairobi County. The operation, which was the culmination of months of surveillance and intelligence gathering, exposed what police describe as a major bhang distribution hub. Authorities allege that Kigunzu wielded significant influence, allowing her to operate her business with minimal interference from law enforcement. She reportedly relied on a network of "watchmen and informants" in the slums to alert her to any impending raids, ensuring her operations remained undetected for years. The initial search of Kigunzu's Ngara property, conducted at approximately 11:00 AM on August 15, 2023, revealed the scale of her operation. Officers were met with an array of items that hinted at a far-reaching enterprise that had been operating under the radar for an extended period. Among the crucial items recovered were 30 large sacks filled with green plant material, believed to be cannabis, weighing a total of 622 kilograms and valued at Sh18.3 million. The search also yielded 42 carton boxes of Oris Slim cigarettes, each containing 200 cigarette pieces, and a box of high-class cigarettes laced with nicotine and other psychoactive substances often used to smuggle drugs. More disturbingly, officers uncovered 174 pieces of weed-laced sweets and 216 pieces of cookies, which were being sold as edible narcotics. "These were not just ordinary confectionery products," Detective Gitonga explained. "They had been laced with narcotic substances and were likely being sold to unsuspecting customers, particularly in youth-heavy areas like slums, Juja, and Ngara." The scene also revealed five black counter books believed to contain records of the operation's dealings, 51 packaging papers, 35 full Rizla rolling papers, and various other materials used for packaging and distributing the illicit substances. One of the most significant discoveries during the raid was a large stash of cash-Sh13.4 million-neatly packaged in sacks. "This money was hidden in sacks, clearly meant to be smuggled and laundered," Officer Gitonga noted. "This discovery ties back to the extensive drug trade that Kigunzu and her associates have been running for years." Additional items recovered included a Samsung Hot 3 mobile phone in serviceable condition, along with two unserviceable phones-an Oppo and a Neon Ray-which police believe were used to communicate with clients and other members of the operation. Despite the recovery of vast amounts of narcotics, cash, and contraband, Kigunzu was not present at the time of the raid. However, three individuals were arrested on the premises: her close associate, 54-year-old Teresia Wanjiru Mwihaki; 19-year-old Eugene Otiende; and a 15-year-old minor believed to be Kigunzu's son. The recovered items were cataloged and filed in an inventory presented in court, signed by the three suspects in the presence of five officers led by Chief Inspector Walter Marungu. Following the raid, Kigunzu went on the run, but she was arrested days later and arraigned alongside her three accomplices before the JKIA Law Courts on August 28, 2023. They faced multiple charges, including trafficking 610 kilograms of cannabis worth Sh18.3 million and possessing proceeds of crime amounting to Sh13,447,520 in cash. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) opposed Kigunzu's release on bail, citing her as a flight risk due to her alleged involvement in drug trafficking. The trial court agreed, and she was detained at Lang'ata Women's Prison remand. Kigunzu appealed the bail decision, and in December 2023, Justice Diana Kavedza of the High Court granted her release on a Sh1 million bond pending trial. However, rather than ceasing her alleged criminal activities, Kigunzu reportedly relocated to Juja to evade police detection. Eight months later, in August 2024, DCI detectives, acting on new intelligence, raided Georgina Apartments in Juja, a property linked to Kigunzu. The two-day operation uncovered further evidence of her ongoing drug trafficking and money-laundering activities, including narcotics, documents, and assets tied to her empire. The ARA has since urged the High Court to forfeit the properties and vehicles linked to Kigunzu and her associates to the government, arguing that they are proceeds of crime acquired through the illegal drug trade. As the case unfolds, it stands as a stark reminder of the pervasive nature of drug trafficking and the lengths to which individuals will go to conceal their illicit gains.

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