Three arrested on suspicion of cultivating bhang worth Ksh.15M

A multi-agency security team arrested three suspects, Victor Kung’u Wainaina, Broddus Wainaina Kung’u, and Dennis Matete, early Friday in Nakuru on suspicion of cultivating bhang on a quarter-acre plot.

According to a police report obtained by Citizen Digital, the plot of land contained full-grown cannabis sativa plants that were ready for harvest.

The plants that were uprooted and destroyed have a street value of about Ksh.15 million, according to the police.

“A multi agency security team led by Nakuru Anti-Narcotics sleuths, stormed into the compound and destroyed what would have been a bumper harvest for the owners,” the police report said.

During the operation, one of the suspects left police officers in stitches after attempting to halt the operation by claiming to be a member of a Nakuru-based Community Based Organization (CBO) that is permitted to cultivate the plant.

“How comes nyinyi hamjui, halafu mbona hakuna consultation? Hii ndio inanionyesha kuwa hii ni malicious, unajua mnaharibu mali ya CBO, it is quite unfair, we have planted fruits with them,” he said.

“Sasa mumeharibu mali ya CBO, it’s quite unfair…”

Man accuses police of not consulting with him before they uprooted marijuana plants worth Ksh.15 million he claims belong to a Community Based Organisation in Nakuru North. Says the police knew about the project pic.twitter.com/M6hrdSRoZD

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 23, 2021

The suspect also allegedly produced a letter that he claimed was drafted by the CBO, allowing him to cultivate the plant.

Another suspect, enraged by the operation, told police officers that he planned to run for a political seat in 2022 and had given up on becoming a cop.

“It is my constitutional right,” he said, “hata naona sitaki hiyo polisi, I will run for the MCA seat.”

One of the officers at the operation-tongue-in-cheek-promised-to-vote-for-him.

The three will be held in police custody until they are arraigned in court.