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Kenya rasta society in court over criminalization of weed smoking

Members of the rasta society at the court premises

• The Rasta Society of Kenya is in court over criminalization of weed smoking
• RSK wants court to declare smoking a means of connecting with their maker
• A court in 2019 said Rastafarianism was a religion

Adherents of the Rastafarian faith in Kenya have gone to court over smoking of marijuana.

According to local media reports, the Rastafari Society of Kenya went to court on Monday, May 17, seeking authorisation to smoke marijuana as a process of connecting with their maker.

They claim the police continue to harass and imprison their members for privately growing and using cannabis for spiritual purposes and for the sole purpose of connecting with the ‘Almighty Creator,’ the reports add.

Cannabis consumption is illegal under current legislation, with offenders facing up to eight years of imprisonment.

There is a strong Rastafarian society in the East African country and they have in times past gone to court to assert their rights.

A landmark case involving adherents in September 2019 resulted in a High Court ruling that Rastafarianism was a religion that needed to be accorded the necessary legal protection.

The ruling involving a girl denied admission because of her dreadlocks also ordered schools not to expel students who keep dreadlocks.

While giving his final verdict in a suit, Justice Enoch Chacha Mwita said that the school administration’s action denied the girl her right to religion and education.

The judge also pointed out that the Constitution does not define what religion is but the dictionary does.

“This is the first ever case in this country where a child dons rasta braids because of her religious beliefs, Rastafarianism is a religion which should also be accorded protection,” said Justice Mwita.

 

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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