This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
On Tuesday, authorities in Isiolo County took a bold step in the war against drugs by destroying over 150 kilograms of bhang with a street value of approximately Ksh.4.5 million. The consignment was confiscated three years ago, but the case was only recently concluded, with the suspect convicted and sentenced to 15 years in jail.
The destruction of the bhang was witnessed by Isiolo Law Courts Chief Magistrate Samuel Mungai, County Commissioner Herman Shambi, County Police Commander Joseph Kigen, and officials from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
According to County Commissioner Herman Shambi, the move to destroy the bhang in full glare of cameras was aimed at silencing doubters who had alleged that the drugs would eventually find their way back to the hands of barons.
Isiolo has been in the spotlight in recent months as the national government's efforts to combat drug trafficking and recruitment of local youth into organized crime have intensified. In the past few weeks, an elite squad of anti-narcotics and anti-terror police was deployed to the county to deal with the issue.
