Muguka Ban: Governors Reject Linturi's Invite, Demand Ruto To Lead Crucial Talks
President William Ruto had last Monday (May 27) ordered CS Linturi to convene a meeting with stakeholders and address concerns raised on the sale and use of the addictive stimulant
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Six governors from the Coastal counties of Mombasa, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Kwale and Lamu have rejected an invitation to meet Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi on Thursday, June 6, dealing a first blow to attempts by President William Ruto's administration to address the stalemate regarding the ban on the sale and distribution of muguka.
The governors include Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa), Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi), Fatuma Achani (Kwale), Dhado Godhana (Tana River), Issa Timmamy (Lamu) and Andrew Mwadime (Taita Taveta).
President William Ruto had last Monday (May 27) ordered CS Linturi to convene a meeting with stakeholders and address concerns raised on the sale and use of the addictive stimulant which the governors of Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita Taveta had banned.
The meeting between stakeholders and Linturi was scheduled for Thursday, June 6, 2024.
Image of a muguka farm. /FACEBOOK
"We regret to inform you that the six-member County Governments of Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani Economic Bloc duly represented by the undersigned Governors, jointly decline to attend the proposed forum scheduled for June 6, 2024," the governors said in a joint communique seen by Viral Tea.
In the joint statement, the governors accused CS Linturi of publicly pronouncing himself on the Constitutional and legal positions taken by Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita County Governors to ban Muguka, in reference to Gazette Notice 6482 of Executive Order NO.1 of 2024.
They claimed that per Linturi's statements dated May 29, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture's position is one of protecting the socio-economics of the producing Counties.
"Recognizing Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani as a consuming region with interests on both socio-economic and health security, we respectfully conclude that you are constrained in being an impartial arbiter on this subject," added the statement.
The county bosses further believed that given that the ban on muguka in the Jumuiya ya Kaunti region has ignited a national public debate and pronouncements by the Executive, Judiciary, legislative and the entire 47 County Governments, it is a matter of extraordinary public interest.
"Considering that the Head of State has held meetings with the Muguka producing County Governments, Central Kenya leadership and issued directions on May 29, 2024; and whereas various Cabinet Secretaries and senior National Government officers have made conflicting statements as to the position of the Executive; therefore, Jumuiya ya Kaunti concludes and requests, that further consultations on this matter be led by the Head of State," the statement added.
The governors further deemed it prudent to include other key stakeholders on the matter such as the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA), the Ministry of Health and the various Security agencies as well as the Civil Society, since the matter is not just Agricultural in nature.
They lamented that as consumer counties, they are negatively affected by the sale of Miraa/Muguka in terms of Health, Security as well as Economy.
"It is critical that this discussion puts the global picture in perspective. Cathine and Cathinone, the active ingredients present in both crops, are prohibited under the current Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act 1994. The National Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) currently classifies Miraa as a psychotropic substance because of these active ingredients.
"Moreover, it is important to note that, Cathine and Cathinone are banned substances in a number of countries worldwide including Tanzania, Uganda, China, Europe, United States, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Canada speaking to the global acknowledgement of the harmful effects of the substances," they added.
They also cited scientific statistics conducted by the Mombasa Women Empowerment Network Mental Health Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, ReachOut Rehabilitation Center, Port Reitz Hospital and the NACADA Rehabilitation Center from 2021 to 2024 showing that 550 patients living with mental health conditions in this calendar year to date, out of 700 (or 82%) were found to be abusing Muguka.
The governors indicated that the trend is replicated across all Coastal Counties and gives them a just cause for concern for the wellbeing of their people, adding that further studies show that owing to the relatively short harvest time of Muguka compared to Miraa, the cheap cost makes the drug easily accessible to minors.
"With these conclusions and extraordinary regional joint resolutions by the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani made in good faith to the public and Constitutional duty to our County Governments; we request and invite your support towards a consultative meeting with the head of State to include the Cabinet Secretaries of Health, Internal Security and Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, copied herein," concluded the statement.
