‘Bhang is and remains illegal,’ Kenya police cautions

The National Police Service (NPS) has re-emphasized the government’s stance on the cannabis sativa plant, popularly known as bhang, which has long been illegal.

NPS, in a statement released on Saturday, underscored that the negative effects of bhang overshadow its perceived ‘advantages.’

“Bhang is and remains illegal in Kenya. And it’s for good reasons that the plant is prohibited. The socioeconomic downside of the herb outweighs the gains,” wrote NPS on Twitter.

“That’s the more reason NPS is on the offensive of eradicating cultivation and use of illegal drugs, bhang inclusive, alongside other prohibited drinks. Drug dealers and users, be warned!”

NPS said this as it announced that three suspected drug traffickers were nabbed in Kisii and bhang with a street value of Ksh.100,000 thousand confiscated.

The three are Charles Chacha Bisebe, Julius Chacha Stephen and Fedestus Musogera Getubia.

The statement on bhang also follows conversation sparked by Roots Party presidential candidate Prof. George Wanjakoyah who pledged to legalise the drug in the country if elected the Head of State, remarks which have prompted mixed reactions across the Kenyans.

Prof. Wajackoya has in the recent past won the hearts of many over his firm yet controversial stand on the issue, in which he argues that the sale of the drug will be able to settle the country’s ballooning debt situation.

"Kenya is in debt, and Kenya borrows Ksh 2B every day, and it keeps on borrowing and borrowing. I would like to pay off the Chinese debt and the shortest way to pay it is by legalising and growing marijuana for commercial and medicinal purposes," he told Citizen Digital in a past interview.

In recent times, scientists have also proven that bhang has medicinal value and can be used to treat digestive issues, headaches, pains, and anxiety and also bring relief to patients with nerve pain, arthritis and insomnia.