Stakeholders from counties that grow Miraa and Muguka now want President William Ruto to intervene in resolving the stalemate in the coastal region that poses an economic challenge in the wake of the ban on Muguka business.

The stakeholders from Embu, Meru and Kirinyaga counties say the application of different standards in the taxation, levies, and handling of Miraa from other crops sets a bad precedence and paves the way for constitutional abuse.

In their six-point resolutions, read by Embu Governor Cecile Mbarire after a successful consultative meeting held at Maanzoni in Machakos County, the group wants Miraa and Muguka traders arrested and released immediately and unconditionally.

Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku said there's no scientific report from research institutions explaining the dangers of Miraa and therefore the Mombasa governor should have consulted widely before imposing the ban since the executive order does not meet the required threshold.

“We need to get answers whether the purported reasons by the Mombasa governor for the ban of Muguka trade are supported by any scientific or medical evidence from either Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organisation, Kenya Medical Research Institute, the Government Chemist, Government Psychiatrist and the Government Pathologist because they are claiming many people are dying in the region,” he said. 

MP Ruku demanded the arrest of the governor stating that he disobeyed a high court order that suspended the ban on Muguka in Mombasa and Kilifi counties on May 28, 2024.

“Why do we have the governor of Mombasa still scot-free and not arrested after disobeying the court order issued by the High Court?”

The leaders also read a sinister motive in the implementation of the ban even as President Ruto pronounced himself over the same.

National Assembly Agricultural Committee Chairperson Dr John Mutunga downplayed the effects of Miraa and Muguka saying that the leaders were only pushing for the ban since it was competing against other drugs in the region.

"People in the Coastal region have lost businesses (those who sell drugs) because the people of Mombasa have discovered it is possible to use a safer product called Muguka. So the substitution has lessened the demand for drugs…that is why leaders are ganging up to support the ban on Muguka," Dr Mutunga claimed.

"Miraa is safe, I have eaten Miraa for over 30 years, I have never suffered for a single day and we have seen scientific evidence indicating clearly that there is no problem with Miraa. It even has some medicinal value. Let us allow people to trade freely."

While indicating that stakeholders from the coastal region were dragging their feet in the efforts to chart the way forward for farmers and traders, the leaders poked holes in what they termed as double standards in applying taxation, levies and the handling of Miraa against other crops.

“We also want to know whether the violence we have seen been used against Muguka transporters, traders and consumers by the governors, their agents and goons is a trade regulation,” he stated.

The group called on the Ministry of Interior to swing into action and protect farmers in a bid to ensure they are not eliminated from the value chain and harassed.