The swearing in of the first Rastafarian lawyer in Kenya marks the history of the country

The Supreme Court in Nairobi, October 25, 2017. REUTERS / Thomas Mukoya

Text by: Charlotte Simonart Follow

In Kenya, the first Rastafarian lawyer was sworn in a few days ago. An admission to the bar which marks the history of the country because the "rasta" movement was recognized as a religion in its own right last year by Kenyan justice. Until then, followers saw themselves as marginalized, as is the case in other countries in the region.

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From our correspondent in Nairobi,

Mathenge Mukundi poses proudly alongside other young lawyers just admitted to the bar, just like him. The photo is taken on the forecourt of the Supreme Court. He is the only one not wearing the traditional white wig, a vestige of the English colonial era.

Mathenge Mukundi wears a blue turban holding his rastas erect on the top of his head. Because for the followers of Rastafarianism, the hair symbolizes faith. They are therefore prohibited from cutting them.

This movement, which claims to be religious for some, a way of life for others, was born in the 1930s in Jamaica. The rastas consider Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia, as sacred, "legitimate ruler of the Earth".

The daily life of Kenyan rastas changed last year when justice recognized their movement as a religion in its own right in Kenya, granting them de facto rights. A historic decision that followed the dismissal of a young Rastafarian girl from her school because she refused to cut her hair. His story had gone around the media and ignited the web, before justice finally proved him right.

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Rastafarianism in Kenya remains a very minority religion with around one million adherents

According to our policy to give opportunities to diverse members of the society, Mr Mathenge Mukundi a practicing Rastafarian did Pupillage with us last and was admitted to the bar as an Advocate yesterday.Congratulations to him pic.twitter.com/YFmYcaUjq2

  Kenya Law (@MyKenyaLaw) July 3, 2020

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