This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
On August 4, 2019, Karen Nyamu, a former Nairobi woman rep aspirant, was spotted smoking weed at the Koth Biro finals at the iconic Umeme Grounds in Ziwani.
The incident occurred just days after Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko called for the legalization of marijuana, citing its medicinal benefits.
During a memorial service for the late Ken Okoth, Sonko said, 'KEN ALIKUA NA MSWADA WA MAANA SANA. WATU WANAOGOPA KUONGEA VITU CONTROVERSIAL, MIMI NITAONGEA. HUYU NDUGU YETU ALITAKA KU-LEGALISE MARIJUANA AMA BHANGI. IKONA DAWA YA CANCER.'
Okoth had been pushing for the legalization of weed in the country, saying it had medicinal benefits.
Comments on social media have been mixed, with some people defending Nyamu's actions and others condemning her for smoking weed in public.
Some of the comments include:
- Charles Omolo: 'Political class will always do anything to please the voter! Karen Nyamu had to smoke to please them! #UshenziKE'
- Keem: 'Karen Nyamu has just elicited another blow to a Kenyan woman after seen smoking weed in public which knows to be illegal. Doesn’t she wants to be an aspirant or just gotten spoiled shame'
- Betterman Simidi Musasia: 'Waiting to see whether DCI will put her in lawful custody like the youth who use this drug!'
- Otieno John: 'How can she smoke bhang in public. What is she encouraging'
- Makova Kevin Snr: 'The campaign to legalize marijuana is taking the wrong path, I am pro-marijuana despite every negative publicity lakini when leaders and the media ride on such a sensitive topic for careless public opinion we now lose the main objective…'
- Douglas Omurwa: 'I used to smoke this until I went nuts… Can’t touch it.'
- Eugine Kay Kayleen: 'Waiting for Sonko to give a press conference??'
- Jerry Nicey: 'She’s avoiding cancer what’s the big deal'
