Kenya Cannabis Laws

Kenya Drug Law

Kenya's primary drug legislation is the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, Cap 245 (originally enacted 1994, subsequently amended). Cannabis is scheduled as a controlled substance with penalties for possession, use, supply, and trafficking.

Possession of small quantities can result in fines (starting at KES 500,000 — approximately $3,800 USD) or imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both. Trafficking offences carry heavier sentences. Kenya does not have a tiered possession system with lighter penalties for small personal-use quantities — legally, all cannabis possession is criminal.

In practice, enforcement at the individual possession level is heavily discretionary. Mombasa's coastal areas have a well-documented history of informal resolution — police officers who encounter tourists with small amounts of cannabis frequently choose to negotiate an informal payment rather than pursue formal prosecution. This is not a legal right and involves real risks: amounts demanded can be substantial, the legitimacy of the encounter may be unclear, and agreeing to pay informal fines may not prevent subsequent formal action.

CBD products are not specifically addressed in Kenya's drug legislation. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has not issued definitive guidance on whether low-THC hemp-derived CBD products are legal for sale. Several wellness retailers in Nairobi and Mombasa operate in this grey zone. No medical cannabis programme exists in Kenya as of 2026.