Rastafarians in Kenya are mobilizing after a court ruling that rejected their request to legalize marijuana consumption for religious purposes. The case, dismissed on 15 July, had been filed by the Rastafari Society of Kenya in 2021 seeking either an exemption from prosecution for followers or a legal framework permitting sacramental use of the plant. The court determined the society had not sufficiently demonstrated that existing drug laws unconstitutionally violated practitioners’ rights.
Rastafari is an Afrocentric religion and social movement that emerged in the 1930s in Jamaica, centered on the belief that the former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I represents divine incarnation and messianic fulfillment. Adherents view marijuana as a sacrament that facilitates meditation and spiritual connection with the divine. The faith gained international prominence through reggae music and has attracted adherents across multiple continents. In 2019, a Kenyan court recognized Rastafari as a legally protected religion following a case involving school discrimination over dreadlocks.
Followers interviewed in Nairobi’s Kibera neighborhood expressed frustration with the court’s decision and pledged to pursue higher-court appeals. Members characterized themselves as a marginalized minority within Kenya whose cultural and religious practices face social stigma. Some practitioners emphasized Rastafari’s emphasis on natural living, plant-based diets, and rejection of what adherents term “Babylon”—their characterization of Western capitalism and imperialism. The movement toward decriminalization reflects broader global efforts; in 2023, Antigua and Barbuda approved regulations allowing Rastafarians to cultivate and consume cannabis.
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