VIDEO: Man, plainclothes officer clash over alleged bhang possession

A viral video showing a man being confronted by a plainclothes police officer at a local entertainment joint over alleged possession of marijuana, commonly known as bhang, has triggered heated debate online.

In the clip, the visibly irritated man, wearing a cap, is seen in a tense exchange with the officer in a dimly lit establishment after being accused of possessing the drug without what he insists is any evidence.

He argues that he was simply enjoying himself at the venue before the officer allegedly singled him out.

The man then begins recording the encounter, demanding to be searched to prove he has nothing on him.

“Unaniambia navuta bangi, mimi umenipata nimekuwa hapa. Nataka unipige search ionekane kama niko nayo,” he says.

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— Eric Latiff (@EricLatiff) May 10, 2026

Taken aback by the recording, the officer questions why he is being filmed. “Mbona unarecord? Unaendelea kurecord?” he asks while making a phone call.

“Piga simu,” the man responds, later alerting others at the venue that he is being accused of marijuana possession and insists he will not be arrested. “Oyaa Dantez! Uyu ati anasema niko na bangi na sina… huyu jamaa hanibebi,” he says.

The officer repeatedly asks for identification, but the man does not comply, instead continuing to defend himself while recording.

“Unanitishia… nakwambia utoe bangi hutaki kutoa… narecord kwa sababu unasema navuta bangi, itanisaidia na evidence,” he adds.

The exchange continues for several minutes before the officer asks if he has finished recording. “Umeshamaliza kurecord?” he says as the clip ends.

In Kenya, recreational use of marijuana remains illegal under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act. As of May 2026, possession attracts severe penalties, including a minimum fine of Sh250,000 or at least five years in prison.

Larger offences such as trafficking carry stiffer sentences, with prison terms of up to 20 years or fines exceeding Sh1 million, while limited exemptions exist for licensed medical use.

Despite the strict legal framework, members of Kenya’s Rastafarian community have been challenging the prohibition in court, arguing that cannabis is a sacred sacrament central to their spiritual practice and that the ban infringes on their constitutional right to freedom of religion.

Following the video’s circulation, social media users weighed in with mixed reactions, with some questioning police conduct and others calling for accountability in law enforcement interactions.