By TONY MUSISI
A 58-year-old man has stunned an Eldoret court after admitting that he cultivated bhang on his small parcel of land as one of his income-generating ventures.
Geoffrey Lingori, who holds a certificate in mechanics from the Eldoret-based Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI), appeared before Principal Magistrate Kimani Mukabi facing charges of cultivating prohibited plants and trafficking narcotic drugs.
Lingori was arrested by police officers from Langas Police Station after he was allegedly found cultivating cannabis on his farm.
The officers recovered 34,000 grammes of cannabis, with a street value of more than Sh1 million, which had been planted on his parcel of land.
The arrest followed a tip-off that prompted officers attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to visit the suspect’s farm to establish the veracity of the allegations.
Upon arrival at the farm, the officers allegedly discovered that Lingori had indeed planted cannabis, which he described as one of his major sources of income.
“Your Honour, it is true that I plant bhang on my small parcel of land as my main source of income,” Lingori told the court, leaving those present astonished.
According to the charge sheet, Lingori is accused that on August 15, 2026, at Malel village in Kapseret Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County, he cultivated prohibited plants, namely cannabis, weighing 34,000 grammes and with a street value of Sh1,032,000.
He faces a second charge of trafficking in narcotic drugs. The prosecution alleges that on the same date and at the same place, he trafficked 50 grammes of cannabis with a street value of Sh1,500, contrary to the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act.
Lingori is currently being held at Eldoret GK Remand Prison pending determination of the charges relating to cultivation of prohibited plants and trafficking in narcotic drugs.
Principal Magistrate Mukabi is scheduled to determine the matter on September 18, 2026.
