Businessman accused of trafficking ex-KDF officers to Russia freed on Sh500,000 bail
A businessman accused of trafficking former Kenyan military officers to fight in Russia has been released on a cash bail of Sh500,000 after spending nearly two weeks in police custody.
Edward Gituku was freed following a ruling by Senior Principal Magistrate Gideon Kiage at the Kahawa Law Courts, who dismissed the prosecution’s application to deny him bail.
Prosecutors had urged the court to remand Gituku pending trial, claiming he was a flight risk and could interfere with witnesses or ongoing investigations.
Recruitment and relocation
Gituku faces charges of facilitating the recruitment and relocation of 22 former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers who allegedly joined Russian military units involved in the Russia–Ukraine war.
The accused denied the human trafficking charges. The prosecution, citing national security concerns, had filed an affidavit opposing his release.
However, Magistrate Kiage ruled that the prosecution had failed to present compelling reasons to justify the denial of bail.
“The right to bond, though not absolute, can only be limited when there are compelling reasons,” he said, noting that the arguments advanced by the prosecution did not meet that threshold.
The court consequently ordered Gituku’s release on a bond of Sh2 million or an alternative cash bail of Sh500,000.
The case will be mentioned in two weeks for pre-trial directions.
