President William Ruto and Embu County leaders on 27th May 2024, held a meeting at State House, Nairobi over the ban of Muguka in selected counties.

An official statement from the meeting addressed recent ban on Muguka in Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita Taveta Counties.

The government acknowledges that there has been concerns over the bans of Muguka, a cash crop for the people of Embu. There was need to address these concerns.

Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, who was also in the meeting clarified that Muguka is Scheduled crop in accordance with the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023.

He said that with the crop being recognized by national legislation, any other laws or orders contradicting national legislation is null and void.

The Cabinet Secretary added that the Crop Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023 were passed by the National Assembly and Senate. The Council of Governors concurred with the process.

Having been passed by the Parliament, it obligates the Government to allocate funds for various aspects of its cultivation and trade.

Three committee members have already been nominated to provide Standard Code of Practice for Miraa/Muguka.

I have held a productive meeting with the leaders of Embu County on the recent ban on muguka. We have agreed that miraa/muguka being a scheduled crop, a meeting be convened to discuss the issue.

Consequently, I have directed the Ministry of Agriculture to convene a forum of all… pic.twitter.com/592jkrr78N

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) May 27, 2024

The Standard Code Practice will regulate the farming, licensing, promotion, transportation, aggregation, selling, marketing and export of the crop.

Agriculture and Livestock Ministry is directed to convene a consultative implementation of the Miraa/Muguka Regulations 2023.

The Government will allocate Ksh500 million in the next financial year for value addition of these scheduled crops.

However, the Government commits to fight against drugs, illicit brews and other illegal substances.

Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita Taveta made this move to address the widespread use of this stimuli in the coastal region.

Sharrif Nasirr, Governor of Mombasa highlighted that there is a larger number of school-going children using Muguka.

Governor Andrew Mwadime noted that a huge number of youths consuming the stimuli in the county have turned to be unproductive and overdependent at an alarming rate.

Also Read: Why Taita Taveta Has Joined Kilifi, Mombasa In Banning Muguka