A bus driver leaving Nairobi for the border town of Busia was forced to speed to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on Kiambu Road after he suspected he was ferrying criminals.
The bus driver narrated to the DCI how he picked up the passengers at 11pm and had planned to use the Uhuru Highway to Waiyaki Way but he smelt the burning scent of marijuana few minutes after leaving the popular Machakos Country bus park.
When he turned the lights on, he narrated that he saw smoke billowing from the back of the bus despite carrying children and women in the vehicle.
He decided to detour and use the Murang’a Road and sped towards Kiambu Road and stopped at the DCI headquarters entrance after suspecting that a section of the passengers were possible criminals who may have attacked the other travellers.
The rolling sound of a speeding bus advancing towards the DCI gate from Muthaiga direction alarmed detectives who quickly rushed to ascertain what the problem was.
"Officers manning the DCI HQs gate recalled hearing the reverberating noise of a speeding bus advancing towards the gate from Muthaiga direction, as the driver shifted gears in quick succession going over the bumps erected a few metres to our headquarters," the DCI stated.
"When the bus finally stopped, officers manning the majestic entrance to the Mazingira Complex approached the bus to establish what was happening, only to learn from the driver that there were passengers who were smoking weed inside, in total disregard for the rest of the passengers including women and children."
Detectives from various units within the DCI conducted a thorough body search on all the passengers who were on the bus and found two suspects with the prohibited substance.
According to the DCI, the first suspect had concealed two rolls of what was suspected to be marijuana in his body while the second suspect had concealed a half-smoked joint inside a matchbox.
"The two were arrested and booked at DCI headquarters for being found in possession of narcotics, as the officers allowed the rest of the passengers to continue with the rest of the journey," the DCI confirmed.
"DCI commends the action taken by the driver of the bus, owned by Kitale Shuttle Company. The actions were heroic and are to be emulated by other drivers in the public transport sector."
Marijuana is prohibited in the country and the cultivation, possession or usage of cannabis carries a hefty fine and jail term in some cases.
According to the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control (Amendment) Bill 2020, anyone found guilty of possessing cannabis face not more than five years in jail or a fine of Ksh100,000 or both.
