This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
On Saturday night, police raided Le Zeros Sports Bar and Grill in Kenol town, Maragua subcounty, after reading posters advertising a party with a unique entrance fee: a roll of bhang.
The club was flooded with music and clouds of heady smoke, but the police were not there to party. They arrested 83 youths and confiscated 146 rolls of bhang.
Among those arrested were six adults, including the club owner, party organisers, and a DJ. They were arraigned on Monday and remanded until July 10.
Thirteen others were charged with being drunk and disorderly and were given a day of community service.
Maragua OCPD John Onditi said that most of the suspects had travelled from Thika and Ruiru towns in Kiambu county, with only a few Murang'a residents in attendance.
Police also impounded a Nissan van with tinted windows, which they suspected may have been used to transport some of the suspects to the party.
When police raided the club, most suspects dropped the bhang on the floor or tossed it on the counter and the DJ's stand, Onditi said.
"We have decided to zero in on six people including the owner of the club and the other organisers," Onditi said.
According to Onditi, Murang'a has been named as one of the counties with the highest levels of drug use among pupils and students.
He also mentioned that a security team is working day and night to curb drug use and peddlers and suppliers are arrested daily and charged.
"It is shocking that even the elderly are selling drugs to youths. We recently arrested a 74-year-old granny with 49 stones of bhang in Maragua," he said.
MP Mary Waithera also spoke out about the issue, saying that children as young as nine were using drugs in schools, notably in Maragua, Makuyu, and Kirimiri areas during recess.
"When you see students basking in the sun in the fields during break times, chances are high they are using drugs. Drugs are now being heavily used in rural areas and drastic measures are required," she said.
