A magistrate’s court has closed a miscellaneous application filed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) seeking to detain Halima Ngache after the three-day detention period granted by the court expired.
When the matter came up before Magistrate Teresia Nyangena, the investigating officer asked the court to extend the detention period to allow detectives more time to complete investigations. However, the magistrate declined the request.
Lawyers representing Ngache, including Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo and advocate Ndengwa Njiru, told the court that their client’s electronic devices had been confiscated without a valid court order. They urged the court to mark the matter as closed, a request that was granted.
The decision follows a High Court ruling issued on Friday by Justice Alexander Muteti, who ordered Ngache’s release from police custody by 5:00 p.m., setting aside earlier detention orders that had allowed investigators additional time to probe allegations linking her to an X account that tracked President William Ruto’s flight movements.
In his ruling, Justice Muteti directed that Ngache be released despite ongoing investigations into alleged offences under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
Ngache was arrested by officers from the DCI’s Serious Crimes Unit following what the agency described as an intelligence-led operation. Investigators alleged that she was linked to the verified X account, @sholard_mancity, which is accused of publishing the President’s flight routes and travel information.
The DCI had earlier obtained orders from the Milimani Law Courts allowing detectives to detain Ngache for three days to facilitate forensic analysis of electronic devices seized during her arrest.
According to investigators, the items recovered included two mobile phones, a laptop, a tablet, flash drives and other electronic devices believed to be relevant to the inquiry.
Ngache has denied operating the X account. She argued that although her electronic devices had been confiscated by investigators, the account remained active, suggesting it could be operated by another individual.
