Booze, drugs and a broken system: Why Nakuru is a haven for illicit trade
21 bags of suspected cannabis that were seized in Elementaita.
Cases of illegal drug substances being nabbed in Nakuru and in large quantities is not new.
On February 17, Mtaa Wangu reported on a case where 497 kg of cannabis sativa was seized by police in Gilgil.
On August 8, George Mwangi Ng’ang’a was sentenced to 30 years after he was found with 32 rolls of bhang. Before then, in November 2023, KRA seized 15,000 litres of ethanol in Mai Mahiu.
It appears these cases have caught the attention of the national government as mentioned by Cabinet Secretary of Interior Kipchumba Murkomen during a recent visit to Nakuru.
In his remarks, Murkomen said Nakuru was being used as a transit town for illicit brew and drugs.
He also revealed that the use of cannabis sativa has been very common in the county.
Additionally, the Interior CS mentioned that there are those within law enforcement who are colluding with the drug peddlers.
“Those who are found to be colluding with criminals will be sacked and legal action taken against them,” Mr Murkomen warned..
According to security expert John Mwangi* says that the fact that Nakuru is strategically located along the mother corridor, makes it a key conduit for the movement of illegal substances.
“Most of the major roads in the country and even in greater Africa go through Nakuru. Therefore, for example when we have cannabis sativa smuggled from some of the neighbouring countries, they easily find their way into Nakuru,” he says.
Mwangi goes ahead to point out that areas of Molo, Rongai, Gilgil and Nakuru East are like transit points for those making their way through Nakuru therefore becoming automatic smuggling zones for those who want to buy these narcotics and even the unadulterated alcohol.
“Nakuru is a rapidly growing urban centre with most of those in the county being the youth and therefore the main target market for these narcotics,” he adds.
Mwangi continues, “Once the youth are addicted, they will do anything sustain this habit. Since most are unemployed they result to engaging in criminal activities.”
According to him, only real action by the top leaders can bring an end to this menace and save the youth from drowning in alcohol and substance abuse and in turn reduce the crime rate in Nakuru.
A 2022 report by NACADA shows that the Rift Valley region is the third highest in the country on the use of illegal alcohol (chang’aa and other illicit brews).