Rastafari followers in Kenya are continuing efforts to decriminalize cannabis use for spiritual purposes following a recent court ruling against their petition. The Rastafari Society of Kenya filed a legal challenge seeking an exemption from drug laws or a government framework allowing the practice, but the court determined the society failed to prove the law violated constitutional rights to religious freedom and equality.
Rastafari is an Afrocentric religion and social movement that emerged in the 1930s among marginalized communities in Jamaica after Protestant leaders interpreted the crowning of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I as fulfilling biblical prophecy. Adherents hold beliefs that Haile Selassie I was the messiah and God incarnate, and they use the metaphor of “Babylon” to describe Western capitalism and imperialism. The faith gained international prominence through reggae music influenced by Rastafari teachings, performed by artists such as Bob Marley.
Within the faith, cannabis is considered a sacrament that practitioners believe facilitates spiritual connection and meditation. Followers describe their practice of righteous and natural living as “livity,” which includes maintaining dreadlocks and following a plant-based diet. In 2019, a Kenyan court recognized Rastafari as a legally protected religion following a case involving school discrimination. The population of Rastafarians in Kenya remains undocumented, though community members have indicated they represent a minority group within the country.
Community leaders stated they intend to appeal the court’s decision to a higher court. Some Rastafarians referenced international precedent, noting that Antigua and Barbuda approved cannabis cultivation and use for Rastafarians in 2023. Adherents emphasized they seek integration within existing legal systems while protecting their religious practices and cultural rights.
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