William Ruto Overrules Ban Of Muguka By Coastal Counties, Terms It Scheduled Crop: "Null And Void"

• On Monday, May 27, President William Ruto held a consultative meeting with Embu county leadership regarding the ban of muguka by a section of counties
• During the meeting, it was agreed that muguka, a variety of miraa, is recognised as a scheduled crop under the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023.
• In a statement, Ruto said any laws or orders contradicting national legislation on Muguka were null and void

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - President William Ruto has moved to address the concerns raised after a section of counties banned muguka.

Why is muguka legal in Kenya?

After meeting with Embu County leadership on Monday, May 28, the president faulted the counties in the coastal region for banning muguka.

Ruto reversed the ban following clarifications made by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi during the meeting.

Linturi explained that muguka is a scheduled crop under the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023.

Consequently, the president termed the move by coastal counties null and void as it contravened national laws.

"With mūgūka having been recognised by national legislation, any other laws or orders that contradict national legislation are null and void.

The Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023 were passed by the National Assembly and the Senate and with the concurrence of the Council of Governors," the statement from the State House read.

How much money did Ruto promise muguka farmers?

At the same time, Ruto said his government would allocate KSh 500 million towards the growth and development of muguka and miraa crops.

Ruto said the future of the two crops is in scaling up farming, aggregation, grading, pricing, packaging, and value addition of the crop.

“For this reason, the government has committed to allocating KSh 500 million in the 2024/25 FY for the value addition of these scheduled crops,” the statement added.

Why Kilifi county banned muguka

Earlier, the Kilifi county government joined Mombasa in prohibiting the sale and circulation of muguka and its products.

Speaking to the press, the county boss Gideon Mung'aro noted that the type of khat was to blame for the perverse behaviours witnessed among the youths in Kilifi.

He observed that the stimulant was also being abused by minors aged between 5 and 6 years, adding that the resolve to ban it was after a uniform petition by the county locals.

Mung'aro further noted that muguka had been red-listed by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Collage of President William Ruto at State House Nairobi (r), and during 2022 election campaigns.

William Ruto Overrules Ban of Muguka by Coastal Counties, Terms it

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