By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
Constitutional lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has expressed concerns over the silence of governors from the North Eastern region concerning the ongoing debate about the effects of Muguka.
The prominent lawyer wondered why the county bosses have left the matter to be addressed by coast governors yet their people are also affected by the plant.
In a statement on his verified X handle on Sunday, June 2, 2024, the Senior Counsel noted that poor locals in the North Eastern were the most affected by the crop that was last week banned in the cost.
“So why are the Governors of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo and Marsabit SILENT on the raging and riveting national debate on the MIRAA/MUGAKA DRUGS when their POOR people are primary victims? Why have they left the fight to the Governors of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu?,” Ahmednasir said.
Last week, Mombasa and Kilifi Counties announced a ban on the sale of Muguka which sparked a national debate on the matter.
President William Ruto would later intervene after meeting leaders from Embu County led by Governor Cecily Mbrarire to address the matter.
Muguka is largely grown by farmers from Embu County.
After the meeting, the State House announced that Muguka was a scheduled crop and hence the ban imposed by the two counties was illegal.
The court also issued an order declaring the ban by the two governors – Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir and Gideon Mung’aro illegal.
Meanwhile, the government through the Ministry of Agriculture is expected to organize a stakeholders meeting to address issues related to the Muguka effects on the people.
When banning the crop, governors from the coast said it was negatively affecting the productivity of the locals.
“This is not a decision that was made by myself alone, I must have pulled the trigger first, but it is an issue affecting society and in Kwale there is a law banning Muguka,” Governor Nassir said.
In Kwale, Governor Fatuma Achani on Saturday revealed that his administration had already increased charges for muguka from Ksh10,000 per lorry to Ksh300,000.
The increase is contained in the Finance Act awaiting assent.
“We have passed a finance bill which I’m yet to sign that anyone bringing in a lorry of muguka will pay Sh300,000,” Achani said.