Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Friday, May 5, elicited mixed reactions after revealing that a roll of Bhang in the Central Kenya region was retailing at Ksh400, up from Ksh100.
Gachagua made the sentiments on Thursday, May 4, in a forum where members of county assemblies from Central Kenya discussed formulating uniform laws to curb illicit alcohol and substance abuse.
The Second in Command expressed joy on the newly hiked prices of Marijuana in Central Kenya, insisting it was a step in the right direction.
Gachagua indicated the new pricing model had compelled youth from the region to stop abusing the drug since it was deemed expensive.
He attributed the sharp rise in bhang prices to enhanced operation and increased regional surveillance spearheaded by law enforcement officers.
"I am so happy that since we started this exercise in the Central Kenya region, a roll of bhang that was Ksh100 is now retailing at Ksh400. They are making progress. It is becoming unaffordable. That is right because the police are so alert, so those selling are now hiking the price," Gachagua stated.
"When they sell at Ksh400, people who were buying at Ksh100 stop smoking because it is not available, so let us not make cheap liquor," he insisted.
The Second in Command lamented, indicating that addiction in the region had even hampered his service delivery in the coffee and tea sector. He told the lawmakers that the young workforce was unavailable to help him revamp the sector.
At the same time, he disputed claims that joblessness was driving young people into drug abuse.
"The issue that they are drinking, because they have nothing to do, is not true! I have seen many projects lacking workers. The people available for work in Central Kenya Region are women, young girls and old men. The young boys are not available."
"The reason is that there is cheap available alcohol. Let us make it impossible to have cheap available alcohol. Let these young boys go to work and buy alcohol, which is Ksh200. This cheap liquor costing Ksh30 and Ksh40 is the problem," he remarked.
Reactions
Following his sentiments, a section of Kenyans online implored President William Ruto to adopt legislation advocated by Roots Party Leader George Wajackoyah on legalising marijuana for medicinal use.
The opposition leader made headlines advocating the sale of Bhang and hyena testicles to repay China loans.
"Wajackoyah should be hailed because he really made this bhang legalisation debate mainstream," one social media user stated.
However, others reprimanded the Second in Command, alleging that he had abandoned his role in revamping the tea and coffee sector as assigned by President Ruto.
"We promised to work on the better price of Coffee, tea and milk...But alas!," another social media user wrote.
Others praised the former Mathira MP for taming drug abuse in Central Kenya.
