Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has announced the withdrawal of the controversial Crops (Amendment) Bill by Kilifi North Member of Parliament Owen Baya.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 4, the Deputy President announced that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party MP has agreed to withdraw the bill, which sought to delist Muguka from the list of scheduled crops.
“Following the request from Embu County elected leaders, met the Hon Owen Baya, sponsor of the private member’s bill that sought to delete Cathus edulis (Muguuka) from the Schedule to the Crops Act. The Hon Baya has graciously accepted to drop his legislative proposal,” DP Kindiki stated.
DP Kindiki’s meeting with the lawmaker came on the heels of a broader consultative engagement with Embu leaders led by Governor Cecily Mbarire and County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Muriithi.
The talks focused on national government interventions in support of key agricultural sectors in the region.
“Our dialogue with county leaders aims to harmonize development priorities and support agricultural livelihoods. Embu is a key player in national production chains,” the Deputy President said in a statement.
Inside the Crops (Amendment) Bill targeting muguka
The controversial Crops (Amendment) Bill sought to differentiate muguka from miraa (khat) and explicitly exclude the former from the list of scheduled crops by amending the Crops Act, Cap 31.
The Crops Act of 2013 was established to certify, regulate, and support designated crops along their value chains, ensuring quality and adherence to industry standards.
A proposed amendment to the Act would have removed muguka from this legal protection and state backing, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of farmers, especially in areas like Embu that heavily depend on the crop.
If passed, the amendment would have empowered county governments to regulate or ban muguka independently, as removing it from the list of scheduled crops would eliminate its recognition under national law.
Also Read: Ruto Cautions Coast Leaders of Blunder Muguka Ban Could Lead to
This proposed change surfaced amid increasing disputes between coastal and eastern counties over the muguka trade. Coastal counties like Mombasa and Kilifi have long pushed for tighter controls or outright bans on the crop, citing concerns around public health and social issues.
Last year, President William Ruto faulted the ban on miraa and muguka by governors from the coast region, stating that both crops are recognized under national law and must be treated accordingly.
Ruto opposes muguka ban in three coastal counties
The President also committed to allocate Ksh500 million for value addition of the crops which he affirmed during a meeting between him and the leadership of Embu County led by Governor Cecily Mbarire at State House, Nairobi.
During the meeting, it was agreed that the farming of both miraa and muguka have been recognised by national legislation, hence any other laws or order that contradicts national legislation is null and void.
Also Read: Government Announces New Miraa Prices After Protests
State House in a statement said that former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi informed the President that the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023 were passed by the National Assembly and the Senate and with the concurrence of the Council of Governors.
“Having been passed by Parliament, the regulations obligate the Government to allocate funds for the farming, licencing, promotion, regulation, transportation, aggregation, selling, marketing and export of the crop,” the statement read in part.
“To operationalise the Crops Act 2013 the regulation provide for the establishment of the miraa/muguka Pricing Committee. Consequently, the Council of Governors has already nominated three members to the committee.”
Further, the meeting resolved that the future of the crops is in scaling up farming, aggregation, grading, pricing, packaging and value addition of the crop.
“For this reason, the government has committed to allocate Ksh500 million in the 2024/25 Financial Year for value addition of these scheduled crops,” the statement reads.
President Ruto also directed the Ministry of Agriculture to convene a consultative forum to address the concerns raised and agree on the implementation of the Miraa/Muguka Regulations 2023.
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