Murkomen, Senior Security Bosses Preside Over Destruction of KSh 8.2 Billion Narcotics Haul in Mombasa

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen was at the Kenyan coast to oversee the destruction of more than 1,000 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, valued at KSh 8.2 billion, at the Bamburi Cement Factory in Mombasa.

Murkomen confirmed his presence at the facility on Thursday, September 24. "Arrived at Bamburi Cement Factory, Mombasa, to preside over the destruction of narcotics worth KSh 8.2 billion. The more than 1,000kg of methamphetamine was seized by our multi-agency security team last October in the Indian Ocean," he said.

Senior Officials Witness the Destruction

The CS was joined by a roster of senior security officials, including Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Deputy Inspectors General Eliud Lagat and Gilbert Masengeli, and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohammed Amin, alongside local leaders.

Ahead of the destruction, a multi-agency convoy transported the narcotics consignment to the Mombasa facility under heavy security. The disposal had been pending the conclusion of court proceedings in Shanzu, including the prosecution of Iranian nationals accused of trafficking the substances.

Seizure Linked to Earlier Naval Operation

The drugs trace back to an operation conducted on October 25, 2025, when a joint security team intercepted a vessel in the Indian Ocean suspected of carrying illegal substances, recovering a total of 1,024 kilogrammes of methamphetamine.

The case wasn't without controversy. In December, Kenya Defence Forces navy officers involved in the interception came under investigation over alleged misconduct, with a section of officers reportedly taking a portion of the seized substances for personal gain during offloading. The military maintained that despite the alleged theft, all substances were ultimately recovered in full and kept at the coast pending further action, with the suspected officers facing disciplinary proceedings as investigations continued.

Thursday's destruction marks the formal conclusion of the chain of custody for the seized consignment, with the government opting for incineration at the Bamburi facility as the method of disposal.