President Ruto Declares Muguka Ban in Mombasa and Kilifi Counties Null and Void.

In response to mounting concerns over the recent ban on muguka by certain counties, President William Ruto convened a crucial meeting with the leadership of Embu County.

The discussions, held at State House, Nairobi on Monday, aimed to address the legislative and economic implications of the ban and find a resolution that balances local governance with national laws.

The meeting was attended by a high-profile delegation from Embu County, including Governor Cecily Mbarire, her deputy, the county senator, the women representative, members of the National Assembly, and all Members of the County Assembly.

Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi provided key insights during the meeting. He clarified that muguka, a variety of miraa, is legally recognized as a scheduled crop under the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023.

“With muguka being recognized by national legislation, any other laws or orders that contradict national legislation are null and void,” the statement from State House read.

The Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023 were passed by the National Assembly and the Senate with the concurrence of the Council of Governors. These laws mandate the government to allocate funds for various activities related to the crop, including farming, licensing, promotion, regulation, transportation, aggregation, selling, marketing, and export.

To operationalize these regulations, the establishment of the Miraa/Muguka Pricing Committee is underway, with the Council of Governors already nominating three members to the committee.

A significant outcome of the meeting was the commitment to develop a Miraa/Muguka Standard Code of Practice. This code will regulate all aspects of the crop’s lifecycle, ensuring that farming, licensing, promotion, regulation, transportation, aggregation, selling, marketing, and export adhere to best practices.

Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock was directed to convene a consultative forum to address stakeholders’ concerns and implement the Miraa/Muguka Regulations 2023.

President Ruto emphasized the government’s dedication to supporting the miraa/muguka industry, announcing a financial commitment of Sh500 million in the 2024/25 Financial Year. This funding is expected to enhance the farming, aggregation, grading, pricing, packaging, and overall value addition of muguka.

The president also reaffirmed the government’s stance against the proliferation of drugs, illicit brews, and other illegal substances.

Article By Suzy Nyongesa.