A man was on Wednesday handed a 2-year sentence by a Nakuru court after being found guilty of illegal distribution, altering of dates and selling of expired generic drugs in the county.
It was established that Peter Mwareka (accused) was on January 30, found in possession of expired drugs at his chemist where he was arrested and charged before Chief Magistrate Bernard Kemei.
Mr Mwareka was arrested at his Chamwa Chemist by officers from the Pharmacists and Poisons Board following a series of complaints from customers who had visited the chemist over the past year.
The accused was also charged with a second count of endangering lives by unlawfully conducting a pharmacy business while not registered by the Pharmacists and Poisons Board.
According to the police investigations, the accused person was working under a fake identification from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and had altered some expiry dates on the drugs which were supposed to be incarcerated.
The accused was however unable to explain how he was able to obtain loads of expired drugs which were supposed to be disposed off.
In his mitigation, Mwareka had told the court that he was a father of two and also a breadwinner of his family and urged the court to release him on bond since the crime was a bailable offence.
He has 14 days to appeal the ruling.