Kiamuriuki Forest: Hidden hub of Mount Kenya's illegal bhang trade

Police officers were destroying bhang on Gwassi Hill, Sub Sub-county in Homa Bay County. The bhang was grown in more than 50 acres on the hills [James Omoro, Standard]. The Kiamuriuki Forest block in Chuka, Tharaka Nithi County, is not only a vital source of livelihood for hundreds of thousands of people but also a source of pain for others. Part of the expansive Mount Kenya Forest, which spans several counties including Meru and Nyeri, Kiamuriuki is a crucial water tower, providing essential water for agriculture and domestic use for generations. In the past, the people of Chuka and surrounding areas treated the forest, with its ancient indigenous trees, as a sacred place. Elders would even hold traditional prayers deep within its foliage. However, that reverence has faded, and today, Kiamuriuki Forest has become one of the major sources of bhang, which is sold throughout Mt Kenya and beyond. The demand for bhang is so high that those involved in the illegal trade have not only established bhang farms within the forest but have also camouflaged the plants among other crops. In Meru, bhang is often planted amidst maize, coffee, and other crops, strategically hidden from the watchful eyes of local Nyumba Kumi members, chiefs, and residents. Mary Kanini, a local resident, openly admits that Kiamuriuki has become a significant hub for bhang production, supplying local peddlers and others. "Kiamuriuki supplies peddlers from Magumoni, Kibugua, Ikuu, Kirege, Chera, Kaarani, and even markets as far as Embu County," said Kanini. "At night, we often hear boda bodas passing through. They know the police are less active after dark, so they come to collect their supplies late," she told The Standard. According to George Muriuki, the forest has fostered the growth of bhang cultivation. "The bhang farm owners are wealthy because the demand is huge," he said. While youth are the primary consumers, some elders also use bhang for medicinal purposes. "Some elders say it helps promote quality sleep and eases arthritis pain," Muriuki added. Farm owners often send buyers to collect their supplies, which are then distributed to various markets, including those in Meru County. "It's difficult for the police to locate the plantations, and even locals are unaware of their existence," explained Muriuki. Jeremy Njue, another local, confirmed that bhang is thriving in Kiamuriuki, with the product being sold in markets like Chera, Kambandi, Kirege, Ikuu, Kiereni, and others. In the past, police have scoured the Mt. Kenya forest, uprooting and destroying bhang worth millions of shillings. Former Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner Beverly Opwora declared a war on the drug, calling it a threat to both livelihoods and health. Many parents worry about their children, most of whom are in secondary and tertiary institutions. However, locals remain hesitant to speak out about the people behind the farms due to fear of retaliation. "I've heard that the bhang farm owners hire guards to protect the farms deep in the forest. No one dares approach them. We hear these protectors live in trees, like monkeys, and are armed with poisoned arrows," said a young man named Kinyua. Despite previous security raids that led to the discovery of some farms and arrests, bhang cultivation continues unabated. Last week, Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi witnessed this firsthand during an overflight of the area, en route to a meeting with Community Forest Association (CFA) and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) personnel in Imenti forest. Mugambi, accompanied by Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko, Central Imenti MP Moses Kirima, Meru Forest Conservator Wellington Ndaka, and other senior government officials, was shown the bhang plants by Kirima.

Kiamuriuki Forest: Hidden hub of Mount Kenya's illegal bhang trade

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