Police arrest a man for having dreads

A man accused of possessing nine rolls of bhang outside the Nyeri Law Courts has claimed that he was arrested because he had dreadlocks.

Mr John Maina said that the Administration Police officers who arrested him and his three dreadlocked friends did not introduce themselves.

He is charged with being in possession of the bhang worth Sh180 on September 30, 2013 at around 3pm.

Constable James Kirubi said that he was on patrol with his colleagues when they saw Mr Maina and his colleagues seated under a tree opposite the courts.

He said that the officers approached the four men who were in dreadlocks whom he claimed looked suspicious.

“We suspected them of of intention to commit an offence.

We found the accused with the nine rolls of bhang, while Michael Maina had four rolls, Alex Ngatia had five rolls while Stephen Muchiri also had five rolls,” said the officer.

Mr Maina told Nyeri Resident Magistrate Vincent Nyakundi that the officers failed to introduce themselves and did not have a warrant of arrest.

The constable however refuted the claims saying that Mr Maina and his colleagues demanded the officers to produce their job identity cards.

The officer said that he had seen Mr Maina and his colleagues on television advocating for bhang to be legalised in the country.

Mr Maina who carried a copy of the constitution tried to quote the Bible but the magistrate told him the court does not follow biblical rules.

Hearing of the case continues on March 22, 2014.