Members of the Rastafari Society of Kenya appeared before Justice Bahati Mwamuye on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, as they pursue a landmark case seeking the legalisation of Marijuana.
The society is challenging sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act that criminalise the cultivation, possession, and use of cannabis, arguing that the laws infringe on their constitutional rights.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) should be enjoined as an interested party in the case. He approved NACADA’s application to join the matter and, as a result, vacated the hearing dates that had been scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
“The application is allowed in terms of the enjoinment of Nacada as an interested party in this matter with immediate effect,” the judge directed.
The decision followed discussions between the government and other parties, who agreed that NACADA plays a central role in shaping and regulating drug policy in Kenya.
The petition, filed by members of the Rastafari community, argues that laws criminalising the private use of cannabis violate their constitutional rights, particularly the freedom of religion. The society maintains that cannabis is central to its religious practice and that criminalisation infringes on constitutional protections for freedom of religion, privacy, dignity, and equality.
The case has been pending for several years, with the community seeking recognition of the Rastafari faith and limited decriminalisation of cannabis for religious purposes.
Through their lawyer, Shadrack Wambui, the Rastafarian community also accused police of ongoing harassment and intimidation. Counsel told the court that photographs of Rastafarians have been circulating online, exposing community members to profiling and persistent targeting by law enforcement officers.
The court has now set January 30, 2026, as the new hearing date, while judgment in the case has been deferred to March 19, 2026, keeping attention focused on what could become a historic ruling for religious freedom and cannabis policy in Kenya.
The post NACADA Enjoined in High-Profile Case on Rastafari Cannabis Legalisation appeared first on Bossnana.
