Kenya Court Dismisses Rastafarians’Bid to Use Cannabis for Religious Worship BODY: Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya’s High Court recently upheld a landmark ruling dismissing a petition filed by the Rastafari community to legally use cannabis as a religious sacrament. This decision has ignited a renewed call for discussions on the country’s drug laws and religious freedom. Members of the Rastafari Society of Kenya have been fighting for nearly six years to use cannabis (bhang) in their religious practices.
Their petition, launched in 2021, claimed that the country’s cannabis ban infringes upon their right to religious freedom, as guaranteed by the Kenyan Constitution.
The community requested a derogation from the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, allowing private and worship-related use of cannabis.
In a surprising ruling on July 15, 2026, Justice Bahati Mwamuye concluded that the Rastafarians had not proven that cannabis is an essential part of their religious practice, thereby rendering them unable to bypass the existing drug laws.
According to the court, the possession of cannabis is a criminal offence, with potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison and substantial fines. Despite the ruling, the legal team representing the Rastafari community has vowed to appeal the decision, aiming for a reconsideration by a higher panel of judges. Danstan Omari, a key member of the legal team, criticized the single-judge panel and expressed their intent to seek a larger panel for a reevaluation of the case.
The Rastafari movement, which was founded in Ethiopia and has since grown into a global movement, has been pushing for the recognition of cannabis as a sacrament in their faith. They argue that it is an integral element of their spiritual practices, akin to Communion in the Catholic faith, as stated by lawyer Duncan Okatch. Kenya’s legal system has long been a battleground for the interpretation of the nation’s drug laws and religious freedoms.
The High Court’s ruling has once again highlighted the complex nature of these issues and the need for further dialogue on both fronts.
As the legal battle continues, the Rastafari community remains hopeful, vowing to press on in their fight for recognition of their religious rights and the reevaluation of Kenya’s cannabis laws.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: rfi
Source: Alison Hird
