The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts have allowed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to detain 14 suspects for five days as investigations continue into alleged money laundering and obtaining money by false pretences.
The suspects were arrested on September 1, 2026, during an operation conducted by DCI officers attached to JKIA.
The DCI sought orders to hold the suspects at JKIA Police Station for five working days, arguing that investigators needed additional time to complete their inquiries.
According to court documents, the investigations were launched following a complaint by a US national identified as Alkhalifi Ibrahim Hassan.
As part of the probe, DCI officers raided Zizo Warehouse, located behind Vision Plaza in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, during an early morning operation.
The suspects are being investigated for alleged money laundering contrary to Section 3 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act and obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code.
The DCI told the court that several exhibits were recovered during the operation and listed in an inventory attached to the application.
Investigators also sought permission for the DCI ICT and Digital Forensics Laboratory to take custody of mobile phones recovered from the suspects and subject them to forensic examination.
The examination will include imaging, accessing, decrypting where necessary, searching and analysing the devices.
According to investigators, the phones could contain financial transaction records, communications and other electronic data relevant to establishing the circumstances surrounding the alleged offences.
The DCI said the information could not be properly retrieved, interpreted or preserved without examination by qualified digital forensic experts.
Investigators told the court that the nature and scope of the probe made it impossible to complete the inquiries within the constitutionally prescribed 24-hour period for presenting arrested persons before a court.
The court granted the application and ordered that the 14 suspects be detained for five days to allow investigators to complete the ongoing investigations.
The matter will be mentioned next Friday for further directions and an update on the progress of the investigations.
