Kangundo residents have raised concern over the increased number of drug dealers and illicit alcohol brewers in the area.
Speaking on Thursday during a meeting in Kangundo Town, the residents said the number of drug dealers in the area has gone up due to the lenient punishment given to the culprits.
The residents said that the drug dealers return to the illegal business almost immediately after being released because they are usually fined a small amount of money.
The residents called for tougher punishments arguing that fining drug dealers a small amount of money is not punishment enough considering they make a lot of profit from the illegal business.
"We are faced with persistent dealing and abuse of drugs in Kangundo, especially bhang and illicit brew, yet users are the only ones who end up in jail since most of them cannot afford the fines charged in court. The dealers usually avoid jail term because they can afford to pay the fines,” said David Kilonzo, a chief.
The residents said it would be difficult to fight drug abuse in Kangundo if the punishments for such cases remain lenient.