- Man pleads guilty to bhang trafficking and asks for long jail term
- Says he was assaulted, starved, and injured in remand
- Arrested with 97 rolls of cannabis and Ksh1,090 in Kiandutu slums
- Tells court he has no family or money for bond
- Case set for hearing on October 7
A man left a Thika courtroom in shock on Monday after asking the magistrate to send him straight to prison instead of remanding him, citing past abuse, starvation, and injury in remand custody.
James Njoroge Thuku, who was arrested in Kiandutu slums, admitted to having 97 rolls of bhang and pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges.
While standing before the Thika Law Courts, Thuku gave an emotional account of his experience in remand. He said he was once assaulted by a fellow remandee during a previous case involving pineapple theft, leaving him with a stomach injury that required surgery.
“I slept hungry for three days and was elbowed in the stomach. Remand nearly killed me. Please jail me instead,” Thuku pleaded.
He insisted that a 5 to 10-year prison term was better than the suffering he previously endured while awaiting trial.
According to the police charge sheet, Thuku was arrested on July 20, 2025, at around 5:20 PM, in Thika-West Subcounty, Kiambu County, after being found with cannabis worth an estimated Ksh4,850 and Ksh1,090 in suspected proceeds.
He was charged with trafficking narcotic drugs under Section 4(a)(1) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.
In court, Thuku disclosed that he is an orphan who has lived on the streets for most of his life. He said he had no relatives, no friends, and no money, not even Ksh500 for bail.
Though the magistrate considered releasing him on personal bond, Thuku had no one to stand surety.
The court scheduled the next hearing for October 7, 2025, to consider sentencing and review his plea for a custodial sentence.
