Economist David Ndii has taken to confession in urging the government to legalize the use of marijuana also known as bhang in the country.
On Wednesday he said that he smoked bhang while in secondary school and still remained focused.
He argued that though it has been criminalized, it is still smoked which is why the government should legalize it.
“Marijuana was criminalized by colonialists. It follows that if we decriminalize it, the crime of smoking bhang will cease to exist. I smoked bhang occasionally in secondary school (age 12-16), still topped my school in O-Level exams. #LegalizeMarijuana,” he tweeted.
“Smoking of marijuana is widespread. In fact, we have more marijuana than cigarette smokers. I am aware of the problem of alcoholics needing rehab, where is the similar multitude of marijuana addicts?”
However, he found himself on the defence as Kenyans discredited his theory saying that thousands of people are in rehab over addiction to bhang.
In 2019, deceased Kibra MP Ken Okoth tabled a Bill in Parliament seeking the legalization of marijuana.
Okoth’s draft proposal called for amnesty for all those who had been jailed over possession of bhang.
He challenged the government to come up with a framework to guide the farming and trading of marijuana. The policy was to also protect minors from this.
His third proposal was for a research centre to be set up and investigate the medicinal value of the drug.
Okoth’s last point was on formulation of a tax model to be imposed to growers and traders of the product.
The Bill presented before National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi elicited a sharp debate online as Kenyans, among them celebrities gave their views on this.
Gospel artiste Bahati said he finds no problem with marijuana being legalized.
“It is a God given plant that grows naturally. I don’t use it but I have no problem with those who use it meaningfully,” he told the Standard.
Comedian Chipukeezy added: “Let it be legalised. I know a lot of industry players who have made it in life and still smoke it.”
