By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
Governors from the coast region have declined an invitation to attend a consultative meeting to address issues related to effects of Muguka.
The Governors under the umbrella of Jumuiya ya Pwani have already written a letter to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi staring their position.
In a letter signed by the Jumuiya’s chairperson Gideon Mung’aro, the county bosses from Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta accused the Agriculture CS of taking sides.
They further said based on the national discussion sparked by their decision to ban Muguka and subsequent decisions by the executive and the Judiciary, any further engagement should be spearheaded by the Head of State.
“Considering that the Head of State has held meetings with the Muguka producing County Governments, Central Kenya leadership and issued directives on 29th May 2024, and whereas various Cabinet Secretaries and senior National Government officer have made conflicting statements as to the position of the executive, Jumuiya ya Pwani concludes and requests that further consultations on this matter be led by the head of state,” said part of the letter.
The county bosses further want other key stakeholders such as NACADA, Ministry of Health and the security involved in the discussions.
Debate over the effects of Muguka was sparked by executive orders issued by Mombasa and Kilifi Governors banning the crop.
The government however insisted that Muguka was a scheduled crop.
The courts have since declared the ban illegal.
However, several Cabinet Secretaries among them Aden Duale and Aisha Jumwa have openly sided with those pushing for the ban on the crop mostly consumed at the coast and North Eastern region.
Over the weekend, prominent lawyer Ahmedbasir Abdullahi questioned the silence of North Eastern counties in the matter.
And after the Jumuiya ya Pwani declined to attend planned stakeholders engagement, the constitutional layer advised governors in the region to follow the same route.
“If they (Governors of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo and Marsabit) can’t provide leadership on the menace MIRAA and MUGAKA pose to their people in the NORTH why not just copy or follow the template developed by the Governors of the Coast region?” the lawyer said.