A petition to legalize marijuana for medicinal and industrial use, presented by Nairobi resident Gwada Ogot, has ignited a heated discussion in the Senate.
Nyamira Senator Kenneth Okong’o Mong’are expressed support for the legalization of marijuana during the debate. He shared his personal experience, stating, "It doesn’t mean that if the plant is legalized, it will destroy lives. It depends with the level of indulgence. As a juvenile, I used it. I was also in India where the plant is legalized but it is vital if people are disciplined. You can choose not to use it."
Senator Okong’o suggested that the government could establish regulations to discourage excessive use, saying, "As a House, we can come up with regulations that encourage deterrence. The government can allow it but have regulations that restrict use."
When other senators, including Yusuf Haji, Mutahi Kagwe, Billow Kerrow, Stephen Sang, Judy Sijeny, and Martha Wangari, questioned whether his past use of marijuana had influenced his decision to run for president, Senator Okong’o denied any connection, stating, "I used to use it sometime ago. It didn’t inform my decision to contest for presidency."
He proposed that the Senate organize a retreat to educate members about the topic, saying, "If the senators want to know about the plant, the House should organise for a retreat to discuss the same."
