Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko, handpicked three Members of Parliament (MPs) to lead the charge to legalize marijuana in Kenya.
Speaking during the memorial service of recently departed Ken Okoth, the governor urged members of the national assembly to pick up the mantle left by the former Kibra MP, regarding the legalisation of bhang.
He went on to handpick Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino, John Kiarie ( Dagoretti South ) and Charles 'Jaguar' Kanyi (Starehe).
"Mheshimiwa Babu Owino na wale wabunge vijana wako hapa kina KJ na Jaguar msiwache kazi nzuri ya mheshimiwa Ken Okoth iishie hapo, endeleeni na hiyo mswada bangi ikuwe legalized,
loosely translating to, Honorable Babu , KJ and Jaguar, I urge you not to let Okoth's motion to legalize marijuana die with him, pick up the mantle and push on until it comes to fruition," Sonko pleaded.
He went on to propose that the country could leverage President Uhuru Kenyatta's recent ties with Jamaica, following his trip to the tropical island, to negotiate for the best grade of marijuana to be shipped from there once it was legalized.
"Na mnaona pia Rais anaenda Jamaica, ikipitishwa tutahakikisha ile bangi safi inakuja kutoka Jamaica, loosely translating to, as you can see, our president is in Jamaica, once we legalize cannabis, we can then get the highest grade from there.
Sonko went on to point out that research showed that, when used for medicinal purposes, marijuana could help in the battle against cancer.
The former Kibra Member of Parliament, Ken Okoth, had many great visions for the country and one that many will remember him by, was his push to have marijuana legalised in Kenya.
The MP, who died on July 26, 2019, went as far as writing to National Assembly Speaker, Justin Muturi, to petition for the legalisation of the banned drug in Kenya.
Okoth, at the same time, wanted all criminal records against citizens with prior convictions of marijuana use dropped and amnesty measures instituted.
Babu Owino has since come out and accepted the mandate, going on to declare that he would champion the course wholeheartedly.
"Today I announce that I will officially take over the late Ken Okoth’s Marijuana Control Bill and whip the numbers to ensure it passes. I will do this in memory of Ken and for the sake of all the Kenyans who are suffering under the burden of cancer," he reiterated.
