Campus Confessions: My short-lived illegal business

Starting university is a whirlwind of excitement, nerves, and self-discovery, especially for first-year students stepping into campus for the first time. 

The campus feels vast, filled with buildings that promise future knowledge and friendships yet to be formed.

For many, it's the first taste of independence that is both thrilling and overwhelming.

For James*, his first year was a rollercoaster as he found friends who introduced him to an illegal business venture.

“I used to live on campus while my friend stayed off-campus. He came up with a business idea, and since we both wanted extra cash and to be less reliant on our parents, we decided to give it a shot," he explains.

The idea?

Selling cannabis-infused cookies commonly known as weed cookies to fellow students. Being first-year students, they thought they'd avoid suspicion.

James shares that for him, the business wasn’t just a source of income but also a way to make connections on campus since he had to find a way to supply the cookies to every party that was happening on campus.

They started with an initial batch worth Sh. 300, establishing a distribution point at the campus hostels and even texting regular customers to let them know when new supplies arrived.

“My friend had a supplier where he stayed, so he’d buy the cookies for Sh. 30 each, and we’d resell them for Sh. 70," he recounts.

The business took off, with supplies coming in three times a week to meet high demand, often leaving them sold out within two days. 

But James admits that the constant worry of getting caught gave him frequent anxiety.

After a year, however, the business came to an abrupt halt when their supplier vanished without warning.

That disappearance marked the end of their venture since they didn't have contact with another supplier.

What crazy thing did you do in uni?

Are you in a college or campus in Nakuru County and would like to share your interesting experience? Write to us on [email protected]. 

Disclaimer: Stories sent to us and published on this segment will not be paid for.