Kenya’s ongoing fight against narcotics recorded a major breakthrough after three Kenya Airways employees were sentenced to 25 years in prison each for their role in trafficking heroin worth more than KSh 60 million.
The ruling was delivered at the JKIA Court, marking one of the most significant drug-related convictions involving personnel working within the country’s aviation sector.
The three — cabin crew members Lennox Chengek Chestit and Alfric Odhiambo Otieno, and ground staffer Kenneth Sinzore Isundu — were found guilty on two separate counts linked to heroin shipments intercepted at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the sentences include heavy fines of between KSh 88 million and KSh 90 million, with a default term of one additional year to run concurrently.
Court records show that Chestit and Isundu were convicted for trafficking nearly 10 kilograms of heroin, while Isundu and Otieno were separately found guilty of attempting to move 20 kilograms of the drug through the airport.
Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku, who presided over the case, rejected the defence’s request for non-custodial penalties, stating that drug trafficking offences fall outside the provisions of the Community Service Orders Act.
Magistrate Thuku also highlighted the risk posed to national institutions when insiders participate in criminal operations.
She noted, as quoted in the ODPP statement, that airline and airport staff play a critical role in safeguarding Kenya’s international gateways and that their involvement in trafficking exposes the country to security vulnerabilities.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a strong indicator of the State’s determination to disrupt criminal networks embedded within key national systems.
Ingonga said the case, prosecuted by Norah Otieno, Kennedy Panyako, and Rono Paula, reflects sustained efforts to strengthen border security and restore integrity within strategic transport facilities.
“This verdict sends a clear message that no individual or institution is beyond the reach of the law,” Ingonga stated.
The convictions come at a time when Kenya has intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking, particularly through major entry points such as JKIA and the Port of Mombasa.
With the case spanning eight years, authorities say the outcome underscores long-term commitment to dismantling narcotics cartels operating within and around the aviation sector.