Court Closes DCI Application to Further Detain Halima Ngache

A Milimani court closed a Halima Ngache detention application on Monday. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had asked the court for more time to hold her.

Senior Principal Magistrate Teresa Nyangena declined the request instead. Her three-day custody period had already expired.

Ngache’s lawyers said officers seized her devices without a valid court order. The magistrate agreed and marked the matter as closed.

Ngache is accused of running the verified X account @sholard_mancity. Investigators say the account published details of President William Ruto’s flight movements, including aircraft registration numbers and travel routes.

She denies the accusation. According to Ngache, the account stayed active even after police seized her phones, laptop, and tablet. She has repeated this defence at every court appearance so far.

What Happened at the DCI Application Hearing

The investigating officer asked Magistrate Nyangena to extend Ngache’s detention. Detectives said they needed more time to complete their probe.

However, the magistrate declined the request.

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo and advocate Ndengwa Njiru represent Ngache. They told the court that officers had confiscated her electronic devices without a valid warrant.

As a result, they asked the court to close the miscellaneous application. The magistrate granted the request.

The Halima Ngache detention dispute has now moved through two courts within a week. Monday’s closure follows a separate High Court ruling issued on Friday.

Justice Alexander Muteti had already ordered Ngache’s release from custody by 5pm that day. His ruling set aside earlier orders that gave detectives extra time to question her.

Justice Muteti directed her release even though the cybercrime investigation remained active.

Background to the Halima Ngache Detention Case

Detectives from the DCI’s Serious Crimes Unit arrested Ngache on June 30. She is also known as Princess Halima.

Officers picked her up in Bamburi’s Kazandani area and described the operation as intelligence-led. Investigators allege she is linked to the X account, which they say published sensitive details about the movements of protected persons.

The DCI had earlier obtained orders from the Milimani Law Courts to hold Ngache for three days. This allowed officers to conduct forensic analysis of her electronic devices.

Corporal Edwin Metto of the Serious Crimes Unit told the court that detectives recovered two mobile phones, a laptop, a tablet, and several flash drives during the arrest. Investigators believe the devices are relevant to the inquiry.

Ngache has consistently denied operating the account. She argues that her devices remained in police custody while the account kept posting.

According to her, this points to another administrator. Meanwhile, investigators have countered that the continued activity may indicate more than one person had access to the account.

The motive behind the alleged tracking remains under investigation.

Monday’s ruling closes only the detention dispute. The underlying cyber harassment investigation against Ngache continues, and detectives have not filed any charges against her.