Muguka and miraa traders in Kwale County face difficulty in their business after the county government passed the 2024/25 Finance Bill which provides for heavy taxes on the leafy stimulant.

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani assented to the bill which comes with stringent measures aimed at regulating the sale and consumption of the stimulants grown in the counties of Embu and Meru.

According to Kwale County Director of Communication Nicky Gitonga, the move is aimed at safeguarding the health and well-being of the youth in the county.

"Lowering taxes can lead to increased consumption of harmful substances, which could have detrimental effects on the health of younger generations. It's crucial to maintain these taxes to ensure that youths receive proper education and awareness about the risks associated with substance abuse," Gitonga said on behalf of Governor Achani.

In the bill, Kwale County has significantly hiked levies by over 100 per cent on traders of muguka and miraa conducting the trade in the coastal county.

Sellers will now be required to part with Ksh.50,000 to be licensed to sell muguka and miraa, a considerable jump from the previous Ksh.10,000.

Muguka transporters using lorries or motorcycles will also bear the brunt of increased taxes, with fees rising from Ksh.3,000 to Ksh.30,000 for motorcycle transport and Ksh.300,000 for lorries weighing 15 tonnes.

County authorities in collaboration with the County Assembly and County Attorney Salim Gombeni have been asked to implement additional regulations to further restrict the sale and distribution of the stimulants.

These regulations will prohibit the sale of muguka in areas such as school peripheries, religious spaces and local markets. Instead, designated areas will be established for the trade, with specific pickup points designated for Muguka arrivals.

The enforcement of the new regulations will commence on Monday.

Kwale has joined other coastal counties like Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and Tana River in the fight against the sale and consumption of muguka and miraa.

Mombasa and Kilifi have banned the stimulant despite a court order overturning the ban. The national government has also criticised the ban saying muguka and miraa are legal in Kenya.

The ban has attracted the wrath of the muguka and miraa growing counties of Embu and Meru.