Kenya
Africa
#162 of 196 worldwide
#44 of 54 in Africa
A 2022 amendment set extremely heavy penalties above a tiny personal-use amount; courts in practice impose far less.
Score breakdown ▏world average
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Possession · 25%0/10adds 0.0 of 25 points
Cannabis (bhang) is prohibited under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, amended in March 2022. The amendment introduced a lesser penalty for a very small amount of cannabis held for personal use, and extremely heavy ones above it: reports cite a fine of at least 30 million shillings or 30 years in prison for 1–100 g of narcotics, and life for more than 100 g.
Personal cultivation · 25%0/10adds 0.0 of 25 points
Cultivation carries a heavy fine and long imprisonment, plus forfeiture of the land.
Punishment & enforcement · 20%1/10adds 2.0 of 20 points
One of Africa's harshest laws on paper since 2022. Courts in practice impose much shorter terms and fines for small amounts, but arrests are frequent.
Sharing & gifting · 10%0/10adds 0.0 of 10 points
Trafficking carries life imprisonment and fines of at least 50 million shillings.
Consumption · 10%1/10adds 1.0 of 10 points
Smoking or otherwise using cannabis is an offence.
Legal access · 10%0/10adds 0.0 of 10 points
None. The national drug agency has repeatedly insisted cannabis remains prohibited despite legalisation petitions.
More context not part of the score
None.
No medical cannabis; a bill has been proposed in the Senate.
A conviction is a criminal record.
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