The Milimani Magistrates’ Court has declined to grant the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) additional time under a miscellaneous application to continue investigations into Halima Ngache and her electronic devices, bringing the proceedings before the lower court to an end.
The ruling follows the High Court’s decision last week ordering Ngache’s release from custody after she had been detained over allegations of operating an X account said to have published information relating to President William Ruto’s flight movements.
When the matter came up before Senior Principal Magistrate Teresia Nyangena on Monday, the investigating officer informed the court that detectives had already begun forensic examination of electronic devices recovered from Ngache after obtaining separate search orders on July 2, 2026. He told the court the examination was expected to be completed before the end of the week and requested more time, saying the findings would determine the next phase of the investigation.
The officer also confirmed that Ngache had already been released in compliance with orders issued by the High Court.
Her lawyers opposed the request, arguing that no formal application seeking an extension of the investigative orders had been filed before the magistrate’s court. They further questioned the legality of the seizure of Ngache’s electronic devices, maintaining that the gadgets had been confiscated without a lawful search warrant and contrary to the procedures set out in law.
The defence also informed the court that those issues had already been placed before the High Court, where Ngache challenged both the custodial orders and the manner in which the investigation had been conducted.
Counsel urged the court to bring the miscellaneous proceedings to a close, arguing that there was no pending application upon which the court could issue further investigative orders. They also sought the release of the seized electronic devices, contending that investigators had failed to justify their continued retention.
The investigating officer, however, maintained that the forensic analysis remained incomplete and argued that the High Court had only ordered Ngache’s release without terminating the miscellaneous proceedings.
After hearing both sides, Magistrate Nyangena observed that no substantive application seeking an extension of the investigation had been placed before the court.
She consequently declined the DCI’s request to continue with the miscellaneous proceedings and directed that the file be closed.
The decision means investigators did not secure fresh orders extending the miscellaneous application, although the ruling does not in itself prevent the DCI from continuing investigations through other lawful processes.
Ngache remains under investigation over allegations that she operated the verified X account @sholard_mancity, which investigators claim published information concerning the movements of President William Ruto’s aircraft. The DCI is investigating the matter as a suspected offence of cyber harassment under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. The initial miscellaneous application had been filed to obtain custodial orders and authority to conduct forensic examination of electronic devices recovered during her arrest.
