Coast governors give condition for State House meeting on muguka

Coast governors and the Coast Parliamentary Group have rejected President William Ruto's invitation to a State House meeting on Tuesday to discuss key issues around muguka, along with their counterparts from Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Embu.

They made the announcement at a press conference in Mombasa County on Sunday, which followed a consultative meeting, giving a condition for any State House gathering involving them.

The coastal leaders revealed that President  Ruto wrote to them on Friday, requesting their presence on Tuesday. However, they emphasised the need to hold an internal coastal meeting first, to stamp their collective stance on issues concerning the stimulant, which is a variant of miraa (khat).

"We took the initiative to consult fellow elected leaders from the Coast, given that this issue affects the whole of society. We have resolved to respectfully request State House to engage the entire leadership of the Coast, including Senators, MPs and Assembly Leadership, exclusively, prior to any other sitting," Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir announced via X on Sunday night.

Mung’aro, chairman of the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani economic bloc, told the press conference, "We have met as leaders. The governors are here. We have apologies from the governors of Taita Taveta and Kwale."

He added, "We are grateful for the President's invitation to discuss the muguka issue as leaders of the Coast. After deliberations, we have decided that the President will need to wait a bit as we cannot meet with him this Tuesday. Instead, we will meet after our internal coastal leaders' meeting scheduled for next Friday."

WATCH: Coast governors and the Coast Parliamentary Group have rejected President William Ruto's invitation to a State House meeting on Tuesday to discuss key issues around muguka pic.twitter.com/4ZtGIg42N6

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) June 16, 2024

Position remains

The governors reiterated their concern about the negative impact of muguka on their communities and the need for a collective approach against it. 

"This is not just a matter for the governors but a concern for our entire coastal community," Mung’aro said, adding that it required the input of all regional leaders.

The coastal leaders also reaffirmed their stance against muguka, with Mung’aro concluding, "Our position has not changed. We do not want muguka. We believe this trade is harming our community, and we must reach an agreement."

The next steps will be announced after the internal meeting on Friday, which will include stakeholders such as health experts, religious leaders, and civil society representatives. Its outcomes will be presented before any subsequent engagement with the president.

Sunday's press conference included Governors Dhadho Godhana (Tana River) and Issa Timamy (Lamu), Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Chibule (DG Kilifi), and senators Mwinyihaji Faki (Mombasa) and Danson Mungatana (Tana River).

Also present were MPs Owen Baya (Kilifi North), Mishi Mboko (Likoni), Gertrude Mbeyu (Kilifi), Rashid Bedzimba (Kisauni), Danson Mwashako (Wundanyi), Anthony Mupe (Rabai), and Abubakar Talib (nominated), while other leaders participated virtually.

Persistent fight

On June 3, in a unified stance against the cultivation and sale of muguka, the six counties forming the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani economic bloc declined an invitation to meet with Agriculture minister Mithika Linturi.

In a letter to the cabinet secretary, Mombasa, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Tana River, and Lamu counties insisted on direct dialogue with President William Ruto, who nullified a ban by the first three counties and asked Linturi to call the meeting to discuss all key issues.

Lamu, Tana River, and Kwale have not banned the stimulant, but Kwale has increased transportation charges per lorry of muguka entering the county, from Sh10,000 to Sh300,000, in an effort to control trade and use.

Governors Abdulswamad, Mung'aro, Dhadho, Issa, Andrew Mwadime (Taita Taveta), and Fatuma Achani (Kwale) expressed concerns over bias, citing Linturi's public pronouncements on the matter, which they say compromise his impartiality.

They also want other key stakeholders on the matter involved, among them the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA), the Ministry of Health, security agencies, and civil society, their argument being that the issue is not only agricultural.

Earlier on Sunday, as Muslims marked Eid ul-Adha, Isiolo and Garissa county leaders called for a ban on muguka, saying it has ruined the lives of many youths and contributed to poor performance in school as well as high dropout and divorce rates.

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