Kisumu man admits to peddling bhang

Kisumu, Kenya: A man has puzzled Kisumu police after admitting to peddling bhang after he was intercepted with 74 brooms of bhang valued at Sh250, 000 in Kunya, Kisumu County following a tip off from the public.

Rashid Opondo, 37, was arrested while transporting the narcotic from an unknown destination to his market place.

Even though he did not disclose to the police where he has been conducting the business, Opondo admitted that he was the owner of the bhang while at Kondele Police station where he was taken after his arrest pending court appearance.

He also said that peddling bhang was the only viable means of obtaining a living rather than stealing somebody's property.

"I admit this bhang belongs to me and I was going to sell it, but I think am better off than obtaining a living through stealing other peoples' property," said Opondo.

It is believed that Opondo is a notorious drug peddler in the area and he has been arrested on several occasions but released on bond where he goes back to committing the same vice.

Opondo asked the police to free him because his offence was much lighter than others like defilement.

The request was shoved off by the police terming his offence similar to others.

According to a report released by National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Kisumu County was the leading in abuse of bhang among the 47 counties.

Measures have been put in place to curb the vice, with members of the public being urged to cooperate with the police in spearheading kicking the menace in the lakeside region.

Area assistant chief while commenting on the arrest, he has called on local youths to deceit from alcohol and drug abuse and warned them if found they will face the long arm of the law.

Mr Harrison Mogokwama also said that drug abuse in his area of administration had made a lot of young energetic people unproductive and he won't tolerate such vices.

"I call upon the youth of this area to keep off from drugs since many are not able to work for too much use of drugs," said Mogokwama.

He also added that with community policing drug abuse in his area will be history.