Mombasa County Government has launched a 10 day grassroots campaign against Muguka trade, distribution and consumption in the County.
The County government will directly engage communities at the very grassroots level, urging them to deter from buying, selling, distributing or consuming Muguka leaves.
Addressing the press at the Governors’ officer in Mombasa on Tuesday, Mombasa County Deputy Governor, Francis Thoya noted that the move has been necessitated by the fact that President William Ruto has been engaging the farmers and traders of Muguka and Miraa in Embu and Meru counties while ignoring the health plights of Mombasa and the entire coastal people.
According to Thoya, the efforts will not stop there, after the lapse of the 10 days whether the President will heed to the coastal people cry or not, the efforts will persist until the issue is amicably resolved.
“Despite our efforts to safeguard our people against the health hazards caused by Muguka trade and consumption, President Ruto has openly taken sides and is engaging those affecting our youthful generation, we have to carry on with what we deem best approach to safeguard our people,” noted DG Thoya.
Demand
The Mombasa Deputy Governor reiterated the firm stand that Coast leaders are not ready and will not meet the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mithika Linturi claiming he already expressed his stand to protect Muguka and Miraa (khat) farmers, adding that coastal leaders will only give a listening ear to the President and not any other person.
“Indeed this fight is for the five coastal counties which have raised grave concerns about the effects of Muguka to their people. We should unite and raise our voice to ensure we always advance the needs and rights of our people,” reiterated the DG.
The five coastal counties of Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, Taita Taveta and Lamu have been reading the same script of completely banning Muguka while Kwale county did not ban Muguka but increased charges for traders.
“During our 10 days of activism against Muguka, we will engage our people and openly tell them that Muguka is a drug and not cash crop because it affect our young people and who after chewing Muguka leaves, they later advance to hard drugs among them heroin and cocaine. We will not sit back and watch as things fall apart,” added the Deputy Governor.
Thoya, noted that the fight against Muguka trade and consumption in Mombasa will be accelerated at all levels, saying there is no turning back.
Meanwhile, the leader is appealing to parents and their children to fully participate in the efforts to ban Muguka business and consumption in Mombasa, adding that their efforts will hugely contribute to a major reduction of demand to the supply of the substance in the entire Coast region.
Recently, National Assembly Majority Leader Owen Baya proposed an amendment to the Crops Act 2013 regulations to remove Muguka as a scheduled crop.
These efforts have received backing from Machakos leaders led by their Governor Wavinya Ndeti who has commenced similar grassroots engagements in the building narrative against Muguka.
“It appears that Muguka barons have organised themselves and captured the state to work exclusively in their favour. As Coast Leaders, we will take this matter back to the people and take their direction,” said and irritated Thoya during the Media address flanked by the entire Mombasa County Government cabinet.
