Eldoret Court Jails Man for One Year Over Sh1 Million Bhang Farm
“Your Honour, I do not plant bhang for commercial purposes, as claimed by the police officers who arrested me, but I use the crop purely for medicinal purposes as advised by my doctor,”
Geoffrey Lingori in the dock at an Eldoret court, where he was sentenced to one year in prison without the option of a fine after pleading guilty to a cannabis-related charge. Photo: HubzMedia
By James Gitaka
A 58-year-old man who admitted to cultivating cannabis on his parcel of land in Uasin Gishu County has been sentenced to one year in prison without the option of a fine.
Geoffrey Lingori was convicted and sentenced by Eldoret Senior Resident Magistrate Beatrice Toroitich after pleading guilty to a charge related to cannabis under Kenya’s narcotics laws.
During his mitigation, Lingori told the court that he cultivated and used the prohibited crop for medicinal purposes, claiming it helped him manage persistent pain in his legs and joints.
“Your Honour, this crop is like herbal medicine to me, and I use it every morning and evening to treat my ailing legs as advised by my medic,” Lingori told the court.
He further claimed that a doctor at a government hospital had recommended cannabis for his condition instead of conventional medication.
“Your Honour, I do not plant bhang for commercial purposes, as claimed by the police officers who arrested me, but I use the crop purely for medicinal purposes as advised by my doctor,” he argued.
Lingori told the court that he had relied on cannabis for treatment for a considerable period and had found it difficult to stop using it.
However, the court sentenced him to one year in prison without the option of a fine.
Police discover cannabis worth Sh1 million
The court heard that Lingori committed the offence on August 15, 2026, in the Malel area of Kapseret Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County.
Police officers attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Eldoret reportedly acted on a tip-off before discovering Lingori cultivating cannabis weighing approximately 34,000 grams, with an estimated street value of Sh1,032,000.
He was also charged with trafficking 50 grams of cannabis valued at Sh1,500.
Lingori initially appeared before Principal Magistrate Kimani Mukabi last month, when he pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing cannabis in contravention of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.
Convict cites medical condition in plea for leniency
In asking the court for leniency, Lingori, who holds a certificate in mechanics from the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) in Eldoret, maintained that his use of cannabis was driven by his medical condition rather than a commercial motive.
He said the crop had become part of his routine for managing pain affecting his legs and joints.
The court proceedings also heard that Lingori lived alone following the breakdown of his marriage.
His claims about receiving medical advice to use cannabis were presented as part of his mitigation. The available case information does not establish whether the alleged prescription was independently verified or whether the court made any finding on the claim.
The sentence underscores the legal consequences of cultivating and possessing cannabis in Kenya, where the substance remains controlled under the country’s narcotics legislation.
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