Man slapped with landmark 50-year sentence, Sh50 million fine in Bomet drug trafficking conviction

Three detained over Sh10 million theft from Safaricom Sacco bank account

A court in Bomet handed down a landmark sentence against a convicted drug trafficker, reinforcing the State’s resolve to dismantle narcotics networks operating along key transit routes.

Senior Principle Magistrate Stephen Onjoro sentenced Bernard Miyeiende Kerongo to a 50-year prison term following his conviction for trafficking in narcotic drugs.

Further, Kerongo was sentenced to pay a fine of Sh50 million or, in default, serve five years imprisonment.

The court heard that on March 22, 2024, at about 5:55 p.m., the accused was intercepted at Mulot town along the Bomet–Narok highway while transporting ten sacks of cannabis weighing 278 kilograms and valued at Sh8,340,000.

The drugs were concealed in a Toyota Noah,, in clear violation of the law.

The case was prosecuted by Principal Prosecution Counsel Ayekha Augustine, whose presentation of evidence secured the conviction

Meanwhile, a senior Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) officer and a Mombasa-based trader appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to corruption-related charges moments after a Mombasa court rejected their bid to suspend prosecution.

Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku dismissed an application by Mark Oriema Gor, Simon Otieno Alloo, and Alootek Systems Limited to block criminal proceedings, noting that the case arose from a commercial dispute and that no compelling reason was presented to shield the accused from justice.

The accused had argued that the prosecution was unaware of a related civil suit and that knowledge of the case might have altered the decision to charge them.

The prosecution, through Principal Prosecution Counsel Alex Ndiema, opposed the application, emphasizing that civil proceedings do not prevent criminal prosecution.

Oriema Gor, the Mechanical Superintendent and member of KPA tender committees, faces charges of conflict of interest for failing to declare a private interest in tender KPA/097/2017-2018/CCE for the supply and maintenance of two Copco compressors.

Alloo and Alootek Systems Limited are charged with fraudulent practices, allegedly manipulating the procurement process and misrepresenting Alloo’s eligibility as the sole distributor of Atlas Copco equipment in Kenya.

Both were released on Sh100,000 cash bail, Prosecution directed to provide witness statements ahead of the pre-trial on March 18, 2026.