Muguka farmers and traders want the government to order the suspension of the executive order in Mombasa and Kilifi Counties that imposed a ban on the product.
Speaking to the press, muguka farmers called on the government to conduct a laboratory analysis of the crop, disputing claims that the crop is to blame for ruining the lives of many youths in the Coastal region.
Many of the farmers said the ban has interfered with their ability to provide for their families since it is the main source of revenue for residents of Mbeere and Embu County.
“You can’t compare muguka to any crop you can plant here in Mbeere. I have never seen another crop that can bring the money that we get from muguka here in Mbeere South,” said James Gauki, a muguka farmer in Embu County.
Gauki said he harvests between 150 to 200 kilograms of muguka in a week, adding that business had been booming until the two counties banned the sale of the crop.
According to Gauki, the decision is ill-informed and unfair to the residents of Embu County.
“This is like killing the residents of Embu, Kirinyaga, and Tharaka Nithi because this is what we depend on to earn a living,” he stated.
He argued that the crop is a blessing to the community and is feeding almost all the homesteads.
From the farm to sorting, packing, weighing, and transporting, the farmers said the crop has created employment for thousands of people in the region.
Additionally, the farmers said muguka does not ruin the youth as alleged by the two Coastal leaders, asserting that the crop doesn’t have the effects experienced by those using drugs.
“I have never seen someone get drunk or high from taking muguka like people do with drugs or alcohol. What are these affected people combining muguka with? That is what is causing the problem,” Gauki said.
Also Read: Embu Governor Reveals Next Step After Two Counties Banned Muguka Sale
Muguka Traders Lose Jobs
In Mombasa, more than 400 traders have been rendered jobless after Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir issued a ban on the sale of the crop.
Moses Nyaga, a muguka trader, said the crop has been his only source of revenue for the last five years. He criticized the county for banning the crop without giving prior notice to the traders and residents.
Additionally, Nyaga said muguka has been helpful to many people, including transporters who now have no source of revenue.
“We have not received anything since the ban was issued. They banned it without giving notice and we don’t know what step to take; we are now idle,” Nyaga said.
Another trader, Bernard Ng’olua, also said he has closed down his business and his employees are back on the streets.
This comes amidst confusion about the differences between muguka and miraa and their health impacts.
Also Read: Tough Rules to Regulate Miraa Sale & Use Adopted
Governor Nassir Ready to Lose Revenue
However, Nassir insisted that he will not lift the ban and urged the traders to sell other products.
He maintained that he is ready to lose millions in revenue collection but save the health of the county residents as well as mitigate the social and environmental consequences.
“You never equate your leadership by money. I would rather be a poor governor than be a governor who leaves an improper generation. It has nothing to do with the money,” he said.
Nassir explained that he is ready to risk his political future but prioritize the health of Mombasa and Coastal residents.
“I would rather put my political career at stake, but I know my conscience is doing the right thing. This is not even an issue of Mombasa; it involves the whole region,” he added.
This comes as a section of residents and human rights groups in Mombasa held a peaceful demonstration in support of the decision to ban muguka.
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