Kiambu: Police Launch Manhunt for Man Who Intercropped Bhang with Maize to Hide Substance
- A one-acre bhang plantation in Kikuyu, Kiambu county, was the centre of the police operation on Wednesday, March 19
- The law enforcers acted on reports made by the residents of the Kidfarmaco area who reported one of their own partaking in the substance farming
- The police found the illegal plants in the middle of the farm intercropped with maize and vegetables to conceal it from passersby
Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Police are searching for three people believed to be behind a plantation of bhang in the Kidfamaco area in the Kikuyu sub-county.
Source: UGC
The officers stationed at the Kikuyu Police Station visited the one-acre farm after being briefed by the residents of the estate.
How police traced bhang farmer in Kikuyu
They established that the substance was growing in the midst of the farm, surrounded by vegetables and maize crops to conceal it from passersby.
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Pointing to a deliberate investment, the officers found sprinklers around the farm which channelled water to the plantation.
"Apart from planting maize, there is bhang, and they have set up an irrigation scheme around it. We came and confirmed it, now we are looking for the owner of the farm and those who he has employed," the senior cop leading the operation said.
On further search, the officers found harvested substances that were drying on the side of the farm.
They embarked on uprooting the whole plantation to clear the farm of bhang.
Despite the efforts by several quarters to have it legalised, bhang is considered among the illegal substances in Kenya.
Kenya’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act stipulates that anyone in possession of such a narcotic, if found guilty, should serve at least ten years in prison.
Why Ledam Olekina, Wakackoya want bhang legalised
Narok senator Ledama Olekina is among the leaders who are on record seeking the decriminalisation of the substance.
Source: Twitter
He argued that bhang contains hemp, which, according to him, has medicinal value and could be turned into a commercial product.
Also on the list of those championing the legalisation of bhang is Roots Party leader George Wajackoya, whose presidential candidature in 2022 revolved around it as his manifesto.
The immigration lawyer often argued that the wide market across the world would fetch Kenya more revenues from the substance's exports, and in turn improve the economy.
In his estimation, Wajackoyah observed that a household partaking in bhang farming would not lack at least KSh 200,000 as annual dividends from the sale of the product.
Woman bursts house-help in bhang trade
In other news, a Kenyan woman fired her domestic help, who was allegedly selling substances from her house in Nairobi.
According to the woman, her house help had lied about her identity and native home to conceal being traced while undertaking the illicit trade.
The worker had lied that she was a native of Tabora in Tanga, Tanzania.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
