Former Kenyan socialite Pesh Lema, also known as Peninah Lema Munyithya, has shared her experience of being arrested and imprisoned in Ghana for drug smuggling. She detailed the events that led to her incarceration and how her life changed while serving her sentence.
Pesh’s troubles began in 2015 when she was living a luxurious lifestyle, with sponsored trips and extravagant experiences. Before one of her planned trips, she was introduced to a friend’s acquaintance who wanted to meet her in Ghana. The night before her departure, she stayed at an upscale hotel in Nairobi, where this individual convinced her to switch suitcases, claiming that her original one was not appropriate for making a good impression on the wealthy person she was supposed to meet.
According to Pesh, she thoroughly searched the suitcase before packing her belongings and found nothing unusual. The following day, she went to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, cleared security without any issues, and boarded her flight to Ghana. Upon arrival, however, things took a drastic turn. She was randomly selected for a luggage search while exiting the airport. Initially, she saw no cause for concern and questioned why she was being singled out. She was then taken to an interrogation room, where officers dismantled the suitcase and discovered a brown envelope containing narcotics.
Shocked and confused, she maintained that she had never seen such drugs before and had no idea how they got into her suitcase. Despite her protests, the authorities accused her of drug possession and smuggling. She attempted to contact the person she was supposed to meet in Ghana, but her calls went unanswered.
Pesh was then transferred to an anti-narcotics department before being taken to a high-security detention facility, where she was detained with suspects of corruption, drug trafficking, and terrorism. Her case proceeded to court, where she was charged with trafficking and possession of narcotics. Despite securing legal representation, proving her innocence proved to be extremely difficult. She explained that under Ghanaian law, once drugs are found in someone’s possession, it becomes almost impossible to convince the authorities otherwise.
She was eventually convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, after serving seven years and six months, she was released on good behavior in late 2022. During her time in prison, Pesh underwent a complete transformation. She turned to Christianity and embraced a new path in life.
Her story has resurfaced amid similar cases involving Kenyans arrested abroad for drug-related offenses. She reflected on how easy it is for unsuspecting individuals to fall into such traps, emphasizing the importance of being cautious and aware of potential risks when traveling.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, Pesh revealed that her mother passed away shortly after she returned to Kenya. Her mother had been unwell since 2021, and upon her return in early 2023, she took care of her until her passing on March 18. Funeral arrangements are currently underway.
Pesh’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of being lured into situations that may have dire legal consequences. She continues to rebuild her life, hoping that her experience will prevent others from falling into similar predicaments.
