Mombasa County Governor Abdulswamad Sherrif Nassir has ordered for a total prohibition on the sale Muguka and its products within the County.
Sherrif in an executive order on Thursday, May 23, 2024, gave the new directive while also banning the use, entry, transportation, and distribution of the drug within the county.
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, ABDULSWAMAD SHARRIF NASSIR, Governor of Mombasa, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order and direct THAT, there be a total prohibition on the entry, transportation, distribution, sale and use of Muguka and its products within Mombasa County,” read part of the order.
Also, all outlets, whether in the form of retail or wholesale have been banned from selling and distributing Muguka within Mombasa County, with the governor ordering for their closure immediately.
Muguka banned in Mombasa
In addition, the governor while banning the sale of the product issued a stern warning on all motor vehicles transporting the product within the county.
Also Read: Tough Rules to Regulate Miraa Sale & Use Adopted
“THAT, no motor vehicles transporting Muguka shall not be allowed entry into Mombasa County,” added Sherrif.
Following the order, the governor has directed the County Departments to enforce this order without exception.
Nassir in a statement highlighted the constitution pointing out that it entails that County Governments exercise the function and power to regulate trade licensing and are also tasked with the responsibility to control drugs and substance abuse.
He further explained that the decision to ban the product was made having considered public sentiment and the greater public good through continuous and widespread public participation.
In his argument, the Mombasa governor explained that the County government is alive to its constitutional responsibility to promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them being the ban of the product.
Sherrif cited that scientific evidence has unequivocally established that muguka consumption causes mental health disease and disability.
He also noted that the evidence has established that muguka leads to devastating health, social, economic, and environmental consequences among other disadvantages.
“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; WHEREAS, all the above takes precedence over any commercial or business interest,” added Nassir.
Also Read: Court Declares Muratina Not Illicit Brew
The decision according to the Mombasa County Government was also made in consultation with the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA).
Nassir and Mbarire Enact Tough Rules
This ban came after the Mombasa Governor together with his Embu counterpart Cecily Mbarire signed an agreement to regulate the sale and use of the product.
Nassir while speaking to the press earlier on May 15 noted that the County had banned the sale of miraa near schools, mosques, and churches to prevent the sale of the product to minors.
He had further directed officers from Mombasa County government, and the county assembly to issue vacation notice to miraa sellers operating within 100 meters from the mapped areas.
“We have mapped all the schools, mosques, churches, and Sunday schools. Within one hundred meters of these locations, we will have representatives from Embu, Meru, and Mombasa to ensure impartiality. They will be responsible for issuing the vacation notices,” Nassir said.
On her part Governor Mbarire supported Nassir’s plan to regulate the muguka trade in the Coastal County but outlined the importance of miraa to Embu residents and the country’s economy.
She said her government would address conflicts between the miraa sellers and the customers to ensure residents from her County relying on the product remain in business.
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