Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, and Taita Taveta counties, which are part of the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani economic bloc (JKP), have announced that they will not attend a forum convened by Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi to discuss the counties' ban on Muguka. 

In a joint statement signed by the four counties on Monday, the governors expressed concern that the CS would not be a neutral arbiter based on his previous statements about Muguka.

"You have publicly pronounced yourself on the Constitutional and legal positions taken by Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita County Governors to ban Muguka (Gazette Notice 6482 of Executive Order NO.1 of 2024)," the joint statement reads in part. 

"According to your statements dated 29th May, 2024, your Ministry's position is one of protecting the socio- economics of the producing counties."

According to the governors, the Muguka debate is of national importance and necessitates broader consultation among various levels of stakeholders. 

"Recognizing that the ban of Muguka in the Jumuiya ya Kaunti region has ignited a national public debate and pronouncements by the Executive, Judiciary, legislative and the entire 47 County Governments, we conclude that this matter is of extraordinary public interest," the statement reads. 

The four governors now demand that the Head of State handle any further consultations on the matter. 

They also want the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA), the Ministry of Health, various security agencies, and civil society to participate in the consultation, emphasising that the ban on Muguka is not limited to agriculture. 

"As consumer counties, we are negatively affected by the sale of Miraa/Muguka in terms of Health, Security as well as Economically. It is critical that this discussion puts the global picture in perspective," the joint statement explains. 

"Cathine and Cathinone, the active ingredients present in both crops, are prohibited under the current Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act 1994."

Cathine and Cathinone, according to the four country governments, are prohibited substances in Tanzania, Uganda, China, Europe, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. 

This, they say, reflects the global recognition of the substances' harmful effects.

The ban, they say, is also informed by scientific statistics conducted by the Mombasa Women Empowerment Network Mental Health Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, ReachOut Rehabilitation Centre, Port Reitz Hospital, and the NACADA Rehabilitation Centre from 2021 to 2024, which found that 550 patients living with mental health conditions were found to be abusing Muguka. 

" This trend is replicated across all Coastal Counties and gives us as leaders, just cause for concern for the wellbeing of our people," the governors added. 

They also believe due to the relatively short harvest time of Muguka compared to Miraa, the cheap cost makes the drug easily accessible to minors.

In late May, the government rubbished the county-level bans on Muguka, with CS Linturi saying the counties could not purport to ban Muguka-- a scheduled crop under the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023. 

According to CS Linturi who spoke during a meeting at the State House, CS Linturi, any purported prohibitions in Mombasa, Taita Taveta, and Kilifi counties that contradict the shrub's legal recognition are null and void.