OTTICHILO:  LEGALIZE BHANG AND CHANGA

BY. MOSES AKIDADI INJENGA(mosesinjenga@gmail.com)

V

ihiga County Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo has joined in the controversial calls for the legalization of bhang and local brews. He has  challenged researchers to carry out proper research in a bid to identify how to make the locally produced commodities safe for consumption.

Speaking during the launch of crackdown mission on elicits brews and substandard products in Vihiga last week, at the Vihiga headquarters, the county boss wondered why bhang is freely used in other countries while in Kenya it is illegal.


Figure 1 VIHIGA COUNTY GOVERNOR DR. WILBER OTICHILO

In a meeting attended by different stake holders including KEBS, NACADA, KRA, KNCCI-Vihiga and county commissioner Mr. Ochilo Oyugi, Dr. Ottichilo also tasked  the stakeholders to find out best way of purifying Chang’aa for packaging and commercial marketing just like in other countries.

‘When you visit some of the western countries like Canada, USA bhang is not an issue. Even in our neighboring country like Uganda.  But the situation in Kenya is different.’ Governor Ottichilo said.

‘Mr. Commissioner sometime I may sound controversial in my speech, but I am challenging these researchers to find out the substances that makes it illegal. Also we need to purify and repackage our local brew (Chang’aa) like Uganda so that it is not harmful to our people. We can make a lot of money out of it.‘ Added the Vihiga governor.

The county commissioner, in his speech indicated optimism but maintained his stand that, for now there is no law that has legalized it meaning it remains illegal. ‘For now if my team comes across anyone engaging in illegal business, he/she will face the consequences. Until that research is done is when we will know way forward’. Said Oyugi. Already an exercise is ongoing across the county on cracking down elicits brew and substandard goods.

Dr. Ottichilo was also part of a team of legislators that lobbied for the passage of the biosafety bill in Kenya. The bill which allowed for the use of genetically modified substances in agricultural production had been opposed by local and international civil society organizations.

Comments

  1. Omugavana calls for legalization of enjaka...

    #kwanyakhana

    ReplyDelete

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