This archive report was first published on 2 July 2019.
On July 1, 2019, police raided a bar in Kenol town, Murang'a County, following a tip-off from members of the public. The raid led to the arrest of 83 people, with six of them being detained for further investigations.
The six suspects include Peter Kiragu, the owner of Lè Zeros Sports Bar and grill, Eva Wambui, the party organiser, Morrison Ndung'u, the party MC, DJs Kennedy Oduor and Dominic Sitati, and weed peddler Dennis Maina.
Investigating Officer Haron Kamuren told the court that they found the suspects with 81 rolls of bhang in the DJ's desk wrapped in a bag. Additionally, Dennis Maina was arrested with 146 rolls of weed.
According to the police officer, the suspects were planning to unlawfully administer oaths to recruits and were in communication with a main supplier of bhang through a WhatsApp group dubbed Rastafarian Prayer Party.
The suspects' lawyer, Kelvin Kinyua, argued that the Rastafarian religion was being put on trial and that the suspects' rights to religion were being violated. He also alleged that the police assaulted his clients during the arrest and took away the pub owner's property.
Senior Resident Magistrate Agnetta Ogonda gave the detectives seven days to conclude investigations and ordered them to search a car belonging to one of the suspects.
