Police Spokesperson Charles Owino has announced a new rule targeting landlords that may land them a 2-year jail term if overlooked.
While appearing on JKLive on Wednesday, December 2, the soft-spoken police boss disclosed that in an upcoming set of laws, landlords would be required to keep records of businesses in their premises and individual tenants.
He explained that the state had resorted to the move in its effort against the drug trade that has become rampant in the country.
Owino explained that the records would help in tracking down the premise owners even after they leave the buildings.
"We are even going to the extent of premises where drugs are manufactured and stored and the landlord as well. To be fair, every landlord will have to keep a register of confirmed addresses and details of individuals that they are renting their premises for purposes of trade.
"We want a situation where we are able to trace individuals who are using particular premises," stated Owino.
He further disclosed that failure to keep the records would either land the landlords in jail or subject them to a hefty fine.
"If you don't keep that record and you cannot convince us, then you are subjected to a fine of Ksh2 million or you are jailed for two years.
"We are trying to close up all the gaps, the ambiguities and issues of interception of communication so we are able to close in on each and every person," added Owino.
The officer also noted that current laws were pretty punitive for drug users and authorities were looking to make it mandatory that Kenyans who know drug users are compelled to report them or face the law.
"Between 1-100 grams the fine is not less than 30 million and jail term not less than 30 years. Over 100g, imprisonment is for life and fine is 50 million. There is a provision for rehabilitation for drug addicts," continued Owino.
As of 2019, marijuana, popularly known as bhang, was among the most abused drugs in Kenya despite rising activism for the drug to be legalised for medicinal purposes.
In September 2020, Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina confirmed to Kenyans.co.ke that he was considering reviving former Kibra MP the late Ken Okoth's 2018 bill that sought to legalise bhang.
He explained that he was considering the move for "health reasons and also for hemp commercial reasons."
