Governors from the Coast region will not attend a meeting convened at Statehouse tomorrow to discuss the issues that have paralyzed the miraa and muguka business in their counties. 

The county bosses want President William Ruto to accord them more time to consult further before they can come to the table with their counterparts from the four Mount Kenya counties that grow the herb. 

A public forum has been convened this coming Friday to come up with resolutions that the governors hope to table before the Head of State

Businesspersons in the miraa and muguka business around the Coast will have to wait a little longer to know whether the standoff between coastal counties and the counties that supply the region with the stimulant will be addressed. 

This comes after governors from the region resolved not to attend a meeting called by President William Ruto at Statehouse Nairobi tomorrow, to try and resolve the issues that have paralyzed the business at the Coast. 

Governor Gideon Mung’aro explained the decision, saying they would not be able to appear for a Tuesday meeting at State House. 

"Rais atabidi kidogo atuwie radhi, kwamba hatutaweza kukutana naye Jumanne hii lakini tutapatana naye baada ya mkutano wetu utakaofanyika Ijumaa wiki ijayo hapa Pwani wa viongozi wote wa Pwani wa kisiasa na wengine wa ngazi tofauti. Baada ya mkutano huo tutakuwa tayari kukutana naye kujadili swala hili linaloikumba jamii yetu."

It is after that public forum on Friday the 21st, which aims to come up with one resolve, that the governors say they will be ready to have a sit-down with the President alongside governors from the four counties of Embu, Meru, Kirinyaga, and Tharaka-Nithi whose businesses have been adversely affected by the decisions being taken by their counterparts at the Coast. 

Mung’aro reiterated their stance, saying, they woud issue a way forward after meeting with leaders from the region. 

"Kwa sasa, msimamo wetu ni huo huo tu, hatuitaki muguka, najua unaingia kimagendo magendo lakini muguka hatutaki. Najua kuna tetesi nyingi sana tunaonekana kwamba sisi tumesimama tu tunakosesha biashara za watu wengine. Tunasema biashara hii inadhuru watoto wetu na ni lazima tukubaliane. Na ndio maana tumetoa udhuru kwa rais kwasababu lazima kwanza tukutane viongozi wote wa Pwani."

The governors have also decried the short period the Head of Public Service communicated to them informing them of the meeting. 

Mung’aro expressed their concerns, saying matter is more than a governance issue as it also tied to health concerns. 

"Tunasema atuwie radhi sababu hata barua tuliipata Ijumaa jioni magavana wote na kwa hivo hatujaweza kufanya majadiliano ya kutosha. Tumekubaliana kwamba hili janga si la magavana peke yake ni janga la umma na tumesema kwamba viongozi wote lazima wahusike."