This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
On July 1, 2019, police in Murang'a County arrested 83 people for allegedly participating in a bhang competition at Kenol town.
The suspects had planned the competition at a popular joint in Kenol town, where entry was only permitted to those who bought at least two rolls of bhang.
According to Murang'a South Sub-County Police Commander John Ondit, the police were tipped off by members of the public and waited for the party to kick off before storming in and arresting the suspects.
"Members of public assisted us in nabbing the suspects who had a party dubbed Rastafarian Party. For one to be allowed in the hotel, he had to buy at least two rolls of bhang; we have initiated a crackdown to arrest more after bhang uptake has risen in the area," he told the Nation.
The police also impounded the rolls of bhang and have vowed to crack down on the notorious vendors who have changed their tactics to attract new clients.
Mr. Ondit warned that school-going children are also abusing drugs and called on locals to help the police in the fight against the vice.
A recent study by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) found Murang'a County to be leading in drugs abuse in the Mt. Kenya region.
The 83 suspects will be arraigned in Kigumo on Monday.
