Following a ban on the trade of muguka in Mombasa and Kilifi, President Ruto called a meeting in Embu County to discuss the matter. In the meeting, the president faulted a ban on muguka and miraa, citing that the crops are legal in Kenya.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire led the meeting in Embu, which several leaders, including the Cabinet Minister for Agriculture Mithika Linturi, attended.
The leaders agreed that farming miraa and muguka is recognized as legal in the national legislation. Therefore, the ban on muguka is null and void as it contradicts this legislation.
According to a statement from the state house, the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023 recognize Miraa as a scheduled crop. The statement confirms that the National Assembly passed the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023.
Fresh muguka ready for the market
Part of the statement reads; Having been passed by Parliament, the regulations obligate the Government to allocate funds for the farming, licencing, promotion, regulation, transportation, aggregation, selling, marketing and export of the crop,
The leaders resolved that the future of muguka and Miraa should be focused on scaling up the crop’s farming, pricing, grading, packaging, and value addition.
The government is committed to ensuring value addition to the crop and has already allocated Ksh500 million for the 2024/25 Financial Year.
After the meeting with Embu county leaders, the president proceeded to hold a phone conversation with the governors who imposed a ban on muguka. The president talked with the governors from Mombasa, Kilifi, and Taita-Taveta, and they agreed to attend a stakeholder meeting to discuss the issue.
Governors Nassir (Mombasa), Mungaro (Kilifi) and Mwadime (Taita-Taveta) have agreed to participate in a meeting of all stakeholders to be convened by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock this week as was agreed with the leadership of Embu County on Monday. President Ruto said.
A man eating muguka
Earlier, the Mombasa governor banned muguka sale, distribution, and consumption in the county. According to the governor, the traders had failed to adhere to the regulations safeguarding the sale and distribution of the product for the good of the community.
The governor of Kilifi, Mungaro, and his counterpart, the governor of Taita-Taveta, Mwadime, followed suit in banning Muguka in their counties.
The governors based their decision to ban the sale and use of muguka on the harmful effects the stimulant plant has on the community. They termed the consumption of muguka as a threat to the young generation confirming that children as young as 10 years are witnessed chewing the drug.
The ban on muguka by the coast county governors has since got netizens talking and taking different sides. While some are happy with the actions, others, including farmers and traders, have strongly opposed it, terming the ban a threat to their livelihood.
At this moment, everyone hopes that the president’s intervention will help resolve the matter amicably.
