The Milimani law court in Nairobi turned into a scene out of ‘Vioja Makahamani’ when a Rastaman, Edward Njeru Njue, was arraigned for allegedly trafficking marijuana.
Mr Njeru, alias Ras Edu and who insisted on being addressed as such, was charged that on March 6, along Kirinyaga Road, Nairobi, he was found trafficking 20 rolls of cannabis valued at Sh1,000.
During his plea-taking last week Thursday, Ras Edu was asked the language he would wish to use in court and said he was good in Swahili, English and Kikuyu.
However, the court was stunned when Ras Edu unleashed his Rasta slang that was synonymous with the slang used by popular reggae radio presenter Mbusii.
“Ni vile sikufika bei ya Babylonian cops wakanishikadem na kunivishadem bangili,” Ras Edu answered during plea.
It took the intervention of the prosecution to explain the words which loosely translate to: “I was arrested by the Babylonian police and hand-cuffed because I did not give a bribe.”
Principal Magistrate Hellen Onkwani then asked: “Are you pleading guilty or not.”
Njue answered: “I am guilty wagwan!”
When prodded by the court on whether he consumes marijuana, Ras Edu responded: “Yeah-men, kama Rasta hii kitu ni Yes I.” (As a Rastaman, marijuana is allowed).
As the magistrate wrote down the proceedings, Ras Edu turned his attention to a female court orderly and tried to charm her.
“Ahoy, sisteren, wewe ni mrembo vi-wagwan!”
The Magistrate asked: “What are you saying to the police?”
Ras Edu responded: “Namshow ni mrembo videadly hakuna ngori”. His reply was met with a burst of laughter from the court gallery.
Magistrate Hellen Onkwani asked the prosecution to deliver its stand in the case but they had no facts of the offence and had also not carried the exhibit to the court.
They asked the court to allow them to present the two substances as Ras Edu was sent to remand and the matter pushed to a later date.
Before leaving the dock, Ras Edu told the magistrate he had not eaten since he was arrested.
“You are going to the Industrial Area remand facility where the state will provide for your breakfast, lunch, and supper, is that okay?” posed magistrate Onkwani.
“Fiti madam (that’s fine with me),” Njue said.
