Joyce Akinyi has long been a controversial figure, both in Kenya and abroad. From her time in an Indian prison to public accusations against her ex-husband of being a wanted drug trafficker, Ms Akinyi’s life has often had the media’s attention for all the wrong reasons.
But after years of legal battles, it appears that Ms Akinyi’s luck has finally run out, as she now confronts the inevitable fallout from her troubled past.
Last Friday, after almost five years of trial, Ms Akinyi was found guilty of drug trafficking, a conviction that adds yet another dramatic twist to her already turbulent life story.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) confirmed that Ms Akinyi, together with two accomplices, was involved in a high-profile transnational narcotics operation using her connections and resources to traffic drugs across borders.
The case, which was prosecuted at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) courts, uncovered compelling evidence linking her to a sophisticated drug syndicate.
“The prosecution team presented evidence showing that Joyce Akinyi, together with her accomplices Paulin Kalala (a Congolese national) and Peres Ochieng, were the masterminds of a well-orchestrated transnational drug trafficking scheme,” read the DPP’s statement on the conviction.
Ms Akinyi’s involvement in narcotics came to light in 2019, when she was arrested at Deep West Bar in Nairobi West, together with her co-accused, after police found them in possession of over two kilograms of heroin.
The consignment which was valued at Sh5.5 million led to charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act. Besides charges related to drug trafficking, Ms Akinyi was also found guilty of owning a forged passport, adding to her legal troubles.
The recent conviction is the latest in a series of legal troubles that have plagued Ms Akinyi’s life. In 2008, she made international headlines after being arrested in India on money laundering charges, alongside then-Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala.
The two were caught with cash amounting to Sh7.5 million at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Airport, sparking suspicions of illegal activities. They were later imprisoned for five months before being released under diplomatic intervention.
- Police hunt woman behind Sh350 million shylock scam
- How Samidoh’s ex-manager hit the wrong note in a Sh2m scam
Ms Akinyi’s legal entanglements did not end there. In 2013, she was arrested again in Kenya on accusations of drug trafficking but was released after claiming that she was transporting maize flour. That same year, her ex-husband, Nigerian businessman Antony Chinedu, sought a divorce, accusing Akinyi of cruelty and infidelity.
The couple’s bitter battles over property and custody made headlines, with Ms Akinyi even accusing Chinedu of being a ‘drug lord’ wanted in Pakistan.
Mr Chinedu, who had lived in Nairobi for 15 years, was deported to Nigeria on 11 June 2013 for being in Kenya illegally and over accusations of being a drug trafficker.
In 2010, Ms Akinyi called for his expulsion, citing him as a threat to Kenya’s security, urging “swift action to ensure Kenyans are safe from his alleged activities.”
Despite her previous legal entanglements, Ms Akinyi’s life continued to captivate the public. However, the latest conviction seems to mark the end of her controversial career.
The court will deliver her sentence on 10 December 2024, and her future remains uncertain as she faces the consequences of her actions.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@nairobilawmonthly.com, and to advertise with us, call +254715061658 anytime of the day
