Court gavel./FILE
An Isiolo court has slapped a man with a hefty Sh2.23 million fine or six years behind bars after finding him guilty of cultivating cannabis.
John Mburugu was convicted at the Isiolo Law Courts following a prosecution led by State Counsel Justice Mugambi.
He was arrested in the Kulamawe area after an intelligence-led operation uncovered 24.8 kilogrammes of cannabis plants valued at about Sh744,000.
The court found that prosecutors had presented “cogent and consistent evidence” proving beyond reasonable doubt that Mburugu was unlawfully cultivating cannabis, contrary to Section 6(a) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act. He was consequently handed the statutory penalty—a Sh2,232,000 fine or six years’ imprisonment in default.
The Director of Public Prosecutions described the conviction as part of a firm and deliberate push to stem narcotics-related crimes.
“This conviction demonstrates our unwavering commitment to combating narcotics-related offenses and protecting communities from the harmful effects of illicit drugs,” the DPP’s office said in a statement.
“By pursuing such cases with diligence and professionalism, we continue to uphold the rule of law and safeguard public safety.”
The ruling comes amid a broader crackdown on drug-related crimes across the country. The DPP maintains that narcotics fuel insecurity, destroy livelihoods, and undermine the well-being of communities.
“We will not relent in prosecuting offenders who endanger society through the cultivation, trafficking, or consumption of illegal substances,” the statement added.
The Kulamawe conviction is not an isolated case. On August 3, 2025, the High Court sitting in Isiolo upheld the conviction of a man caught trafficking 18 kilogrammes of cannabis along the Marsabit–Isiolo highway.
The appellant had challenged both the guilty verdict and the sentence, but the court dismissed his appeal, ruling that the evidence was overwhelming and the punishment aligned with statutory provisions.
That decision reinforced the judiciary’s stance on narcotics-related offences, particularly in northern Kenya, where trafficking routes have become increasingly active.
Taken together, the back-to-back rulings point to Isiolo’s growing prominence in the national fight against drugs. Both the magistrate’s court and the High Court have handed down stiff penalties, reflecting what authorities see as a coordinated judicial approach to dismantle drug networks.
Investigators say intelligence-led operations remain central to the strategy. Combined with robust prosecution, they are aimed at cutting off cultivation and trafficking chains that exploit the region’s strategic position as a transit corridor.