Man confesses to cultivating bhang as traditional medicine
By Brian Malila
A fifty-five-year old man from Mugui village in Embu East sub county has shocked police, after confessing he cultivates bhang as a traditional herb at his farm.
The man identified as Gerald Ireri , was nabbed with the bhang with a street value of Sh10,000. He had planted the bhang in a tea plantation.
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Confirming the incident, Kagaari North West senior chief Mark Nyaga, said that they were tipped off by members of public, before proceeding to the suspect’s farm to confirm the claims.
“We were given the information by members of the public, and accompanied with the police and my assistant chiefs, we moved there and found it was true the suspect had planted bhang on his farm,’’ said Nyaga.
Traditional herb
He said they uprooted the bhang and arrested the suspect.
During interrogation, Ireri maintained that what the police had uprooted was not bhang but an Embu traditional herb, which has been planted in the area since time immemorial.
He said he learnt about the “herb” from a deceased forester adding that it had helped him heal a persistent back problem.
Vegetables
‘’A forester gave me this plant and I do believe in it, I used to crawl on my knees because my back had a problem but since I started taking this plant, I am now able to walk without a problem,’’ he said adding that he also uses the plant as vegetables.
His wife, however told the police that she had been trying to stop his husband from the illegal activities to no avail.
She pleaded innocence over the matter, saying her husband had been cooking his own ugali laced with cannabis leaves from his plantation.
The suspect is now being held at Runyenjes Police Station awaiting to be arraigned to face charges relating to being in possession of narcotic drugs.
