Written by Joyce Nzomo
A man charged with trafficking bhang stunned a Thika court on Monday by pleading guilty and asking to be sent straight to prison instead of being held in remand.
James Njoroge Thuku, who was arrested with 97 rolls of cannabis in Kiandutu slums, told the court that he had previously suffered physical abuse, starvation, and injury while in remand custody—and would rather serve a long prison sentence than go back.
Njoroge was on Monday arraigned before the Thika Law Courts, where he was charged with trafficking narcotic drugs, contrary to Section 4(a)(1) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.
According to the charge sheet, on July 20, 2025, at around 5:20 PM, Thuku was arrested at Kiandutu slums in Thika-West Subcounty, Kiambu County, for being in possession of 97 rolls of cannabis sativa (bhang) with an estimated street value of Ksh4,850.
He was also found with Ksh 1,090, believed to be proceeds from the illegal trade. He pleaded guilty to the charges.
While pleading for leniency, Thuku made an emotional appeal to the court, explaining that he had undergone surgery in his stomach area and would not survive life in remand.
He asked the court to send him to prison for 5 to 10 years instead, saying he would rather serve time in jail than go back to remand, where he previously suffered physical abuse and starvation.
In his statement, he revealed that during a prior detention related to a pineapple theft charge, he sustained a stomach injury after another remandee hit him with an elbow due to the overcrowded sleeping conditions.
He added that he went without food for three days during that time. Thuku told the magistrate that he was an orphan, had lived on the streets most of his life, and had no family or friends to stand surety or assure the court of his attendance if released.
Although the magistrate considered granting him a personal bond, there was no one to act as a surety, and Thuku confessed he did not even have Ksh 500 for bail.
The matter will be heard on October 7, 2025.
