Authorities find and destroy bhang plants in Nanyuki.

Nanyuki Saturday, May 27, 2023

KNA by Muturi Mwangi

Authorities in Nanyuki, Laikipia County have uprooted over 200 plants of cannabis sativa that had been planted on the roadside.

Laikipia East Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Patrick Muli who led local authorities in identifying, uprooting and destroying the plants said they had received a tip off from a member of the public about a small bhang plantation.

“We received a report that bhang had been planted on the roadside within Nanyuki town from local residents. We have uprooted and destroyed over 200 plants that were on the abandoned road reserve,” said Muli.

The DCC noted that it was not immediately established who had planted bhang on the busy Nanyuki- Rumuruti road and at the same time ruled out accidental germination saying the bhang plants appeared to have been planted deliberately on an abandoned section of a road reserve.

He lauded residents for volunteering to give out information to authorities in order to end the narcotic and substance abuse in the area among the youth.

Village elder Maina Njoroge said he and other members of Nyumba Kumi initiative have launched a sensitization programme for residents to desist from engaging in social vices such as crime, consumption of illicit liquor and abusing drugs.

“We encourage residents if they know anywhere else cannabis sativa is planted to inform us. For the youth, they should learn that drug abuse is a bad thing since it makes them irresponsible,” said the elder.

Njoroge called on parents to be at the forefront in supporting the Government campaign to end consumption of illicit brews and drug abuse.

The plants were later set ablaze by the security officers as members of the public expressed shock at the ingenuity displayed by whoever chose a public road to grow prohibited drugs.

Courtesy ; K. N. A