The Mombasa and Kilifi County Governments have issued new directives with far reaching consequences on traders and the farmers of muguka, which is a variety of Khat.
- •Mombasa and Kilifi among other counties across the coastal region are key market areas for the crop which is produced in Mt Kenya region.
- •In the latest Gazette notice, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sherrif Nassir has ordered total prohibition on the entry, transportation, distribution, sale and use of muguka and its products within the county.
- •Other directives include closure of all outlets, whether in the form of retail or wholesale, selling or distributing muguka to be closed immediately. Motor vehicles transporting muguka shall also not be allowed entry into the island.
“Scientific evidence has unequivocally established that muguka consumption causes mental health disease and disability, leads to devastating health, social, economic, and environmental consequences, and places burdens on minors, families, the poor, and County health systems. All the above takes precedence over any commercial or business interest,” noted Governor Abdulswamad.
The Governor says the decision is based on public sentiment and the greater public good through continuous and widespread public participation.
He says he has also consulted the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) which is empowered vide section 5 (g) of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse Act (Revised), 2012 to co-ordinate and facilitate, in collaboration with other lead agencies and non-State actors, the formulation of national policies, laws and plans of action on control of alcohol and drug abuse and facilitate their implementation, enforcement, continuous review, monitoring, and evaluation.
Abdulswamad’s Kilifi counterpart Gideon Maitha Mungaro also last week directed that there be a total prohibition on the entry, transportation, distribution, sale, and use of muguka and its products within Kilifi County.
He said that all outlets, whether in the form of retail or wholesale, selling and/or distributing Muguka within Kilifi County be closed immediately and/or stop the sale of Muguka and its products and that motor vehicles transporting Muguka shall not be allowed entry into Kilifi County.
“In light of the above order, I therefore, with immediate effect, issue a directive to all the Kilifi County enforcement officers through the Directorate of enforcement to ensure the order is enforced in totality. Any officer found colluding with culprits will face the law and all the disciplinary actions there are,” Mungaro said.
Muguka is a variety of Khat that is green and bushy. It is a stimulant that produces a mild high when chewed. The crop is fast growing and does well in the semi-arid lowlands of Embu County, making it less vulnerable to erratic weather conditions.
Embu’s county government says there are about 65,000 farmers growing the crop in the region, making muguka one of the highest income earners for the region apart from coffee and tea.
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