The Bill before the National Assembly Committee on Administration and National Security seeks to fine drug traffickers fines of between 50,000,000 shillings and 100,000,000 shillings.
The Narcotics, Drug and Psychotropic Substance Control (Amendment) Bill, which, if passed, will help untangle the coast region from the stranglehold of a menace caused by drug barons according to a section of Coast leaders.
According to the Bill, a person who is outside Kenya and conspires with another person who is in the country will be liable to a conviction and a fine of not less than 100,000,000 million and life imprisonment. The person will be deemed to have committed the offense in Kenya.
“Where the person is in possession of 101 grams or more, to a fine of not less than Sh50 million or three times the market value of narcotic drug or psychotropic substance and imprisonment for life,” reads the Bill.
The Bill also indicates that enforcement officers, who will aid or abet any offense including colluding with drug dealers, will be fined up to 20,000,000 million or jailed for a term not less than 20 years.
According to Nyali MP Mohamed Ali, the current law, which proposes that culprits be fined up to 1,000,000 shillings or three times the worth of the drugs, is lenient and affords drug barons the luxury to continue with their business.
“Some of us [have received] threats, but we shall not be cowed. We want to ensure its passage so that we can save our young people from the claws of drug abuse,” Nyali MP Mohamed Ali.
“Now is the time to go for the barons. We want a law that will allow their communications intercepted while gathering evidence. The guilty will pay high fines,” he added.
The Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir said that this Bill will save thousands of youth who have been affected by the narcotics trade and help them focus on other more important things in their lives.
MP Abdulswamad added that all leaders who are against a drug dealer being given a harsh penalty must explain their reasons, “enough lobbying has been done in Mombasa with organizations’ support for the Bill.” He added.
“There is a need for our government agencies to work together against drug dealers. These people have ruined entire generations. They live lavish lives while our youth suffer. We need this Bill to be passed as early as this year,” MP Abdilswamad said.
Sources like Nation Africa, it is indicated that the Bill has President Kenyatta’s support as well as support from political and religious leaders from the Coast.