Kwale Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Jail for Bhang Possession
Kwale Resident Magistrate Ruth Ogollo handed down the sentence, offering Mwamatezo an alternative: pay a fine of KSh 1 million or serve the full jail term.
Photo/Courtesy.
By Brian Kiprop
A middle-aged man in Kwale County has been sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges involving bhang.
Salim Mwamatezo was convicted on his own plea on Friday for being in possession of narcotic drugs, according to a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Kwale Resident Magistrate Ruth Ogollo handed down the sentence, offering Mwamatezo an alternative: pay a fine of KSh 1 million or serve the full jail term.
The court heard that Mwamatezo was nabbed with a significant stash — 50 large rolls of bhang, 99 cut cubes, and 49 cigarette-sized rolls — all valued at approximately KSh 40,000 on the street.
During court proceedings, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Collins Orwa urged the accused to reconsider his plea, warning of the severe legal consequences.
The case was mentioned three more times, but Mwamatezo stood firm, insisting on pleading guilty.“Despite being advised to rethink his decision, the accused repeatedly maintained his plea,” said the ODPP in a statement.
A pre-sentencing report painted a grim picture of Mwamatezo’s impact on his community. Described as a notorious drug peddler, he had reportedly ignored numerous warnings from both the local chief and the village chairman.
Even more disturbing, the report claimed that Mwamatezo often bragged about being “untouchable,” allegedly due to protection from rogue police officers.
His home, the court heard, had become a safe haven for criminal gangs — a place where criminals regrouped and terrorized locals, making life unbearable for residents in the area.
In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Ogollo said the court took into account the seriousness of the offence, the negative impact on the community, and the accused’s blatant disregard for authority.
Mwamatezo now faces a choice: pay the hefty KSh 1 million fine or spend the next seven years behind bars — a clear message that the law is tightening its grip on small-time drug dealers who wreak havoc in Kenyan communities.
About Author
