On your way from Kisii town, along Prisons road past Uchumi supermarket, you would not fail to notice Masosa area.
It borders Jogoo to the north, Nyambera to the east, Kisii town to the south and Kisii Prisons to the west. These two areas; Masosa and Nyambera, are known for their involvement in illegal drug transactions and prostitution.
After receiving the news, we consult a very close neighbour in the area. I will call him Morris Mosota (not real name). He says young, energetic men who are said to be school dropouts and have been in the business for close to six years now, normally execute bhang business.
He tells us that most of them dropped out of school following death of their parents, opting to sell bhang to earn a living. Mosota says before they venture into the business, they undergo training on how to make the product, where it is obtained from and the procedure of puffing it.
“Those involved in selling it are my distant cousins and most clients are my neighbours and friends,” adds Mosota.
He reveals to us that most of the consumers are bodaboda operators, prison warders from Kisii prisons and some young boys from Gusii Highlights school.
According to Mosota, a good number visits the place early mornings and late evenings, adding that they have new recruits everyday, an indication of a booming business.
We set on an expedition to these regions, where we divide into two groups; one proceeds to Masosa as the other goes to Nyambera.
We go to where Mosota had earlier pointed to us. Upon arrival, we pretend to book a room just as he advised us.
The leader, who happens to be jovial and welcoming, tells us a room goes for only Sh250 irrespective of how long we ‘work’ in it. We bargain to Sh100.
Interestingly though, our host is willing to let us in without a single cent on condition that one of us sleeps with him.
We agree to their conditions, and then my colleague calls the ringleader aside and asks for a roll of bhang to perform the job well. They negotiate in low tones for some seconds before settling on Sh30, which he gives out in exchange for the substance.
We excuse ourselves to go to get some 'protection', having booked a room and promise to be back later, which we did not.
We later give Kisii OCPD Tom Mutisya a call to inquire whether he is aware of the illegal trade and if so, which steps police have taken towards curbing it.
Mutisya admits that people engage in the business and most have been brought to book while others have escaped from the police chase.
“The ability to stop drug trafficking in Kisii lies on the residents,” says Mutisya. He insists that if we report lawbreakers to the relevant authorities, all issues pertaining drug and substance abuse will come to a sudden halt.