By Robert Mutasi 
A 58-year-old man has been sentenced to one year in prison without the option of a fine after admitting to cultivating cannabis on his land in Uasin Gishu County.
Geoffrey Lingori, a trained mechanic who holds a certificate from the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) in Eldoret, was sentenced by Senior Resident Magistrate Beatrice Toroitich.
During his mitigation, Lingori told the court that he had been growing bhang for medical purposes, claiming that a doctor at a government hospital had recommended it to relieve pain in his leg joints.
He said he had been using the drug as an alternative to conventional medicine and had found it difficult to stop because of his continued reliance on the substance.
Lingori had pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis sativa in violation of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act when he appeared before Principal Magistrate Kimani Mukabi last month.
The offence occurred on August 15, 2026, in the Malel area of Kapseret Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County.
According to the case details, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Eldoret acted on a tip-off and found Lingori cultivating cannabis on his parcel of land.
The plants reportedly weighed 34,000 grammes, with an estimated street value of KSh1,032,000.
Lingori also faced a separate charge of trafficking 50 grammes of cannabis valued at KSh1,500.
The court heard that he lived alone following the breakdown of his marriage.
His claim that he had been using cannabis for medical reasons formed part of his plea for leniency during sentencing. However, the court handed him a one-year prison term without the option of a fine.
The case highlights the legal consequences of cultivating and possessing cannabis in Kenya, where the production and possession of the substance remain offences under the country’s narcotics laws, except where specifically permitted by law.
Lingori’s account of receiving medical advice to use cannabis also raises questions about the distinction between personal claims of medicinal use and legally authorised medical treatment involving controlled substances.