Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has challenged youthful MPs to take up former Kibra MP Ken Okoth’s campaign to legalise bhang.
Speaking at Okoth’s funeral service at Moi Girls on Thursday, Sonko told Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Dagoretti South’s John Kiarie and Starehe’s Charles Njagua aka KJ to ensure the proposed Bill is passed.
“Ken had a very good bill. Don’t let his good work to go to waste. Push that bill so that bhang is legalized,” Sonko said in Swahili as mourners cheered.
“You can also see the President is going to Jamaica. If legalized, we will get the good quality from Jamaica so that we get medicine to treat cancer,” Sonko added.
Many Kenyans will remember him by was his push to have marijuana legalised in Kenya.
In a letter dated September 21, 2018, the legislator petitioned Parliament to regulate the growing and safe use of marijuana in Kenya.
“The proposed Bill seeks to ensure that there is regulation for growth and safe use of marijuana and hemp including the registration of growers of growers, producers, manufacturers and users with special focus on protection of children/minors from illicit use just as we do with tobacco and alcohol,” Okoth’s letter read in part.
The legislator also wanted research and policy development on growth and use of marijuana and hemp for medical, industrial, textile and recreational purposes “with a focus on the preservation of intellectual property rights for Kenyan research and natural heritage, knowledge and our indigenous plant assets.”
ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna said the Bill will be sponsored by ODM.
