A man has been sentenced to pay a fine of KSh50 million, or serve 50 years in prison in default, after he was convicted of trafficking in narcotic drugs.

Pascal Chacha was charged under Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Amendment Act, 2022, at the Narok Law Courts.

Chief Magistrate Hon. H. Nyaberi passed the sentence after finding Chacha guilty upon his own plea later during trial.

The court was told that on February 10, 2025 along Narok-Suswa Road in Ntulele, Narok East Sub-County, Narok County, Chacha, jointly with others, was found trafficking 47.3 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa (bhang) valued at KSh1,419,000 being conveyed in a PSV matatu vehicle.

In handing down its sentence, the court observed that the quantity of bhang was a significant aggravating circumstance, noting that the offence involved the conveyance of a substantial quantity of 47.3 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa.

The Prosecution relied on plea bargain to secure the evidence of the driver who was later converted into a state witness

Having weighed the mitigation against the aggravating circumstances, the court found that the accused deserved a deterrent sentence and noted the court’s obligation to protect the public from the effects of such offences.