In Muguka Ban, Taita Taveta joins Kilifi and Mombasa counties. Kwale and Tana River are in the final stages of drafting a bill that will also outlaw popular stimulants in their respective counties.
Taita Taveta is the third county in Kenya to prohibit the sale and distribution of muguka, a popular stimulant leaf.
In a statement that he made on Sunday, the governor of the county, Andrew Mwadime, announced that he decided to follow the example of his other governors on the coast and ban the stimulant, notwithstanding the fact that his counterparts had experienced pushback from dealers.
Mwadime asserts that the county’s young residents’ dependence on stimulants prevented them from contributing to the county’s development.
“A significant percentage of youth who consume muguka in the county have proven themselves to be useless and excessively reliant at a disturbing rate.”
“In light of all these and other measures to safeguard future generations, I therefore prohibit entry, transportation, distribution, sale, and consumption of muguka within the county,” says Governor Mwadime.
Over the past several days, the governors of Mombasa and Kilifi, Abdulswamad Sherrif and Gideon Mung’aro, respectively, have implemented the ban in their respective counties.
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani and the county assembly are also considering going the same route. Sources claim that Tana River County is also in the final stages of banning the popular stimulant.
At Port Reitz Hospital in Mombasa on Thursday, Nassir issued the edict, drawing attention to the stimulant substance’s widespread use throughout the coast, even among school-age children.
Nevertheless, in the wake of the ban imposed by the two counties, Embu County, which is primarily the major provider of Muguka, has voiced its discontent with the actions and has vowed to challenge the judgements.
In the meantime, Martha Karua, the head of Narc Kenya, has demanded that the government immediately resolve the inconsistency with the sale of Muguka and Miraa laws in 2021. She cites the fact that Kenya’s laws acknowledge Miraa and Muguka as genuine crops.
Chewing on the juicy and luscious stem of Miraa can distinguish it from Muguka, a rather small shrub with edible leaves but no stem.
Meru County primarily grows miraa, while Embu County produces muguka.
