Rastafari followers in Kenya are actively campaigning for the decriminalization of marijuana for religious purposes following a recent court ruling that rejected their legal challenge. Members of the House of Nyabinghi, one of the main denominations within the faith, gathered for their weekly communal meetings in Nairobi’s Kibera neighborhood to continue their spiritual practices and discuss their legal efforts.
Rastafari is an Afrocentric religion and social movement that emerged in the 1930s within Jamaican communities. Adherents hold beliefs centered on Haile Selassie I, the former Ethiopian emperor, whom followers regard as the messiah and God incarnate. The faith also emphasizes that Black people have been oppressed by what adherents call Babylon, a metaphorical reference to western capitalism and imperialism. The religion gained international prominence through reggae music and artists associated with the faith.
Within the Rastafari tradition, cannabis is considered a sacrament, and followers believe consuming it facilitates a meditative state that deepens their spiritual connection. The Rastafari Society of Kenya filed a court petition in 2021 seeking exemption from drug laws for religious practitioners or requesting that the government establish a legal framework permitting the practice. The court dismissed the petition on 15 July, determining that the society had not adequately demonstrated that existing laws unconstitutionally violated their rights to religious freedom and equality.
Despite the court’s decision, Rastafarian leaders indicated they intend to pursue an appeal to a higher court. Members expressed that the ruling marginalizes their religious community and emphasized their desire for greater acceptance of their cultural and spiritual practices in Kenya. Some followers noted that their religion received legal recognition in 2019 when a court acknowledged Rastafari as a protected religion following a case involving school discrimination based on dreadlocks. Other jurisdictions, including Antigua and Barbuda, have approved cannabis cultivation and use by Rastafarians in recent years.
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