The recent apprehension carried out by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) involving a 54-year-old woman suspected to be a drug kingpin has sparked a diverse range of responses among Kenyan citizens.
The collaborative operation executed by personnel from the Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Trans National Organised Crime Unit on Tuesday, August 15th, led to the discovery of a significant quantity of cannabis sativa and a substantial sum of Sh13.4 million in cash.
Subsequent to the operation, law enforcement officials arrested the woman, alongside three teenagers aged between 16 and 17, within the Kariua slums situated in the Ngara region of Nairobi.
The unveiling of this incident on Twitter drew astonishment from Kenyan citizens, with certain individuals seeming to recognize the woman as “Mathe wa Ngara.”
In response to the DCI’s intervention, Wisdom conveyed the viewpoint that over 40 percent of Kenyan citizens engage with marijuana in various capacities. Wisdom proposed that it might be time to consider legalization, allowing for regulated trade, potential foreign exchange earnings, and increased self-reliance for small-scale farmers. This approach could potentially reduce dependence on external financial entities like the IMF and World Bank.
Several Kenyans commended the DCI’s actions, asserting that the youth of Kenya needed to be safeguarded from the perils of marijuana abuse.
However, some Kenyan citizens observed an inconsistency in the information provided by the National Police Service (NPS) and the DCI. The NPS reported the seized amount as Sh12.9 million, while the DCI stated it to be Sh13.4 million.
A comment from Wuod Saint questioned the accuracy of the reports, asking if the figures were the same and whether the administrators were in agreement.
Smith Legrande responded to the DCI by stating that while they could apprehend individuals, they could not control the broader societal circumstances that contribute to such situations.
The DCI playfully replied, “Understood. Let’s meet up at Mathe’s place early.”
During the operation, authorities confiscated 26 bags of cannabis sativa (marijuana), four cartons of rolling materials, 173 individually wrapped items suspected to be infused with marijuana, and a carton of suspected cannabis-infused biscuits.
The suspects are scheduled to appear in court on August 16th.
