Ruto tasks Kilimo House with consultation on Muguka Regulations » Capital News

NAIROBI Kenya, May 28 — President William Ruto has directed the Ministry of Agriculture to convene a consultative forum on the Muguka regulations following the ban in two coastal counties on health grounds.

In a statement on Monday, Ruto insisted Muguka is a variety of Miraa and is a scheduled crop under the Crops Act 2013 and should therefore be regulated under the Miraa Regulations (2023).

The Crops Act 2013 lists Miraa as a crop without a breeding program.

Ruto led the fast-track establishment of Miraa/Muguka Price Commission under the Crops Act 2013

He said the Board of Governors has already nominated three commission members.

“WITH Mũgũka recognized by national law, any other law or order contrary to national law shall be null and void,” the House of Representatives announced.

“The Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023 were passed by the National Assembly and the Senate with the consent of the Governor’s Council.”

The government has pledged £500 million in the 2024/25 financial year to increase the value of planned crops.

Ruto said that the future of Mirai/Muguka is about scaling up aggregation, classification, pricing, packaging and value addition in agriculture.

“The legislation, passed by Parliament, requires the government to allocate funds for agriculture, licensing, promotion, regulation, transportation, aggregation, sale, marketing and export of crops,” the House of Representatives noted.

The President made these remarks after meeting with Embu County leaders led by Governor Cecily Mbarire, Members of Parliament and MCAs.

Muguki ban

This directive was issued after Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Nassir and his members
Kilifi’s counterpart, Gideon Mung’aro, has issued executive orders prohibiting any entry, use,
and sales muguka in their districts in response to health problems.

They both cited its harmful impact on the youth in Mombasa.

Governors noted the widespread consumption of the stimulant on the street
Coasts, including among children attending schools.

Muguka it is mainly grown in Embu County, the lower parts of Mbeere South and North constituencies.

However, on May 25 this year^, In 2024, Embu County announced it would take the case to court to challenge the judgment
Mombasa and Kilifi move to ban supply, sale and consumption muguka,
a substance still containing cathinone.

Embu deputy governor Kinyua Mugo said there was no justification for the ban
muguka claiming there is no scientific evidence for this muguka
was a drug.

He said there is no single law prohibiting its sale or consumption.

Mugo said they would seek orders to lift the ban while looking for other options
unblocking the deadlock.

“Muguka and Miraa are the same. We read politics. Is
scandal and we believe that everything is done in bad faith. Because we
we had contacts with the Mombasa government and yet they went behind our backs and helped others,” he said.

Mugo said such a move would disadvantage players in the multi-billion dollar value chain
including farmers, traders and carriers.

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