By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
Muguka traders in the coast region have suffered yet another setback. This is after the second county imposed a ban on sell and transportation of the plant.
After Mombasa County imposed a similar ban early this week, Kilifi has now followed suit.
In an executive order issued by Governor Gideon Mung’aro, the county said it will not allow entry, transportation, distribution, sale, and use of muguka within its borders.
“In exercise of the powers conferred in Section 30(2)(1) of the County Government Act and all other enabling laws of Kenya, I, Gideon Maitha Mung’aro, Governor of Kilifi County, hereby order and direct as follows,” read part of the order.
“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,” he added.
The county boss further ordered that motor vehicles transporting Muguka shall not be allowed entry into Kilifi County.
He asked county departments and their agencies to enforce the order without exception.
“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,” Mung’aro said
He warned that any officer found colluding with culprits will face the law and all the disciplinary actions there are.
On Thursday, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir issued a similar order pointing out that Muguka was the leading cause of addiction in the region.
He accused muguka traders of ignoring laws put in place to safeguard children from the drug’s influence, claiming some have even gone as far as selling the drug to minors.
“We have tried to come up with regulations so that users and the larger community can co-exist but they have refused and for this reason, I have consulted legally and found my decree to be in order,” the county boss said.
The matter has already elicited mixed reactions with the traders crying foul.
Runyenjes MP Muchangi Karemba on Friday, May 24, 2024, also revealed that he had ordered his lawyers to proceed to court and seek an order to stop the muguka ban in Mombasa County.