By G, KNA
A mentally deranged man in Uriri Market, Migori County has been unknowingly giving police hints on where bhang peddlers have been selling the stuff like normal food but with no action taken on the illegal business.
The strong and bully chap has however become a fun parody to the law enforcers and members of the public on equal measures as he goes about his usual begging style for only Sh20 to buy ‘bangi’ from well-known joints within and around the market.
With a hoarse voice, John, (not his real name) has the tendency of moving from shop to shop asking for only20 bob and in the process announcing what he intends to buy with the money and from where the stuff is to be purchased.
“Please assist me with Sh20 I go buy drug (bhang),” has been John’s day-long begging style within the market, a prayer that has been heeded by some irresponsible people while others have ignored him, acknowledging his frolics as a big fun to them.
Yet once he secures the Sh20 in his palm, he treks fast to one known home where the stuff is dispensed without much ado by a peddler apparently well-known to even the local security bosses around.
But John’s fun notwithstanding, the worry is the closed eye the police and the national government administration officers have trained on this peddler and many others roaming and destroying the lives of young men and girls in the area.
Many residents think there are undercurrent businesses going on between the law enforcers and the peddlers, the former who apparently get protected from arrests to continue with their ill activities.
“I am very much disturbed by the open sale of cannabis sativa to young people here. Some of the teenagers are turning to zombies yet the man killing them is known to the law enforcers here,” rued Mrs Lilian Achieng’, an estate dweller within the market.
She said it was sad that one notorious –known bhang sellers is a neighbour to St. Pius High School, Uriri and has been a great friend of students of the school.
“There is no doubt that the past recent strikes at the school have been partly fueled by bhang sold to students by the peddler,” noted Achieng’ when she spoke to KNA.
But Mr Musa Owili, another resident now wants the police to do their assignment properly and use the Madman to trace his bhang shopping points to make arrests.
“It is very easy to crack-down on all the peddlers of this weed here. Just give John 20 bob and follow him secretly to where he gets the stuff. Unless there are some common businesses binding the law enforcers with the peddlers, then we can forget such arrests,” said Owili.
He claims there are over ten bhang selling joints within and around Uriri market that are operating with the express knowledge of security officers around.
These also include Chngaa selling dens some of which are operating just behind the deputy county commissioner’s office and next to the AP camp, he reported.
But contacted, a police officer said they have seen the madman asking for money but have not been told where he gets the bhang.
“Yes we have been told of the man’s mission with the money he begs for, but truly nobody has shown as where he gets his stuff,” said the officer who did not want his name mention since he is not fit to comment on such issues.
He challenged anybody with information about specific people peddling bhang or selling chang’aa within the area to report to the police for action to be taken.