Rastafarians practise meditation using marijuana, and Kenyan members of the movement are awaiting a ruling by the High Court on July 15 on whether they will be allowed to smoke it under the right of freedom of religion. The Rastafari movement's followers -- often recognisable by their long dreadlocks -- identify as mystical, Pan-Africanist, anti-colonialist, and vegetarian. Kenya effectively recognised the movement in 2019 when a court ruled that expelling a school pupil because of her dreadlocks violated her religious rights. But local Rastafarians say they are still harassed by police due to a 1994 law that makes possession of weed punishable by 10 years' imprisonment and a substantial fine."Every time I walk on the street, someone will come and want to intimidate me and say, 'Hey Rastaman, stop'," said Moses Mudachi Isavwa, who goes by his Rastafarian name of Ras Masinde.The 50-year-old is proud that his dreadlocks link him to the Mau Mau, Kenya's independence fighters who fought against British colonial rule -- and who often sported dreadlocks.But Isavwa said his dreadlocks, despite their storied history in Kenya, still attract undue persecution from authorities.
Followers claims the movement is increasingly gaining traction in Kenya © Tony KARUMBA / AFP
