April 18, 2026
Kenyan Navy Ordered to Take Control of Private Cruiser Ship

Kenyan Navy Ordered to Take Control of Private Cruiser Ship

The Kenyan Navy has been given permission to take over the administration of the MV Igor, dubbed “Mashaallah,” following the High Court’s preservation order, which restricted any transactions with the vessel.

Evelyn Gaithuma, Deputy Registrar, High Court Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division, issued the orders on Thursday, December 11, directing the commander of the Kenya Navy to manage and safeguard the vessel.

The Kenya Navy seized the “Mashaalah” boat on October 20, 2025, and it is currently in custody at the Kenyan Navy base in Mtongwe, Mombasa County.

The order was obtained following an Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) application under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA).

According to Njuguna, those involved with the boat, which has no registered owner, will be prevented from selling, transferring ownership, or disposing of it once it is in the Kenya Navy’s possession.

“THAT this Honourable Court be pleased to issue a preservation order restraining the Interested Party, his employees, agents and/or representatives acting on his behalf, prohibiting the sale, transfer or disposing off or other dealings with the boat MV Igor christened as “MASHAALLAH” which has no registered owner and currently in the custody of Kenya Navy Mtongwe,” the order read.

Furthermore, the court asked the Director General of the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) to restrict the boat’s movement.

The Kenyan Navy manages and controls boats primarily for maritime security, anti-piracy, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement in Kenyan seas.

This occurs when the vessel is suspected of being involved in illegal operations such as smuggling, piracy, or posing a security concern.

ALSO READ:

Just four months ago, the Navy, in collaboration with other security teams, including  DCI, the Kenya Coast Guard, and NACADA, intercepted a boat with six Iranian Nationals that was ferrying drugs worth more than Ksh8 billion.

The vessel was intercepted on Saturday, October 26, 2025, about 630 kilometres east of the coast of Mombasa, before being escorted to the port.

The boat was put on radar by Kenyan security agencies after regional and international partners alerted them about a suspicious boat roaming in the Western Indian Ocean.

DCI Director Mohamed Amin said that after the vessel was impounded, security agencies got a court order allowing them to inspect its contents.

Kenyan Navy Ordered to Take Control of Private Cruiser Ship

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *