Members of Rastafari communities in Kenya are mobilizing efforts to change the legal status of marijuana following a court decision dismissing their decriminalization petition. The ruling came on 15 July, and representatives of the faith indicated plans to appeal to a higher court.
Rastafari is an Afrocentric religion and social movement that emerged in the 1930s within Jamaican communities. Adherents believe the former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I is the messiah and God incarnate, and they view Babylon—a metaphor for western capitalism and imperialism—as a source of Black oppression. The faith gained international visibility through reggae music and artists associated with the movement. In Kenya, the religion was recognized as legally protected in 2019 following a discrimination case involving a student expelled for wearing dreadlocks.
Within Rastafari practice, cannabis consumption is considered a sacrament believed to facilitate meditation and spiritual connection with the divine. Followers in various countries have sought legal accommodation for this religious practice. In 2023, Antigua and Barbuda approved allowing Rastafarians to cultivate and use cannabis. The Rastafari Society of Kenya filed its petition in 2021, arguing the prohibition violated rights to religious freedom and equality. The court dismissed the case on 15 July, determining the society had not adequately demonstrated unconstitutional violations.
Community members expressed frustration with the legal outcome, characterizing their situation as marginalized within Kenyan society. Practitioners emphasized their focus on righteous living through practices including plant-based diets and spiritual discipline. Several adherents described their journey to the faith through exposure to reggae music, books exploring Black history, and encounters with established community members.
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