Garissa County advances bill to restrict muguka trade beyond designated areas

A bill proposing a ban on the sale and supply of muguka beyond designated areas in Garissa town is progressing through the Garissa County Assembly.

Under this legislation, all sub-counties in Garissa County, except specified zones within Garissa town, would be subject to restrictions on muguka trade.

Sponsored by Abdirahman Mohamed Ali, the Sankuri Ward Member of the County, the bill that will be published in the government gazette before the end of this week seeks to introduce stringent measures on licencing and the sale of the stimulant drug within the designated areas in Garissa town.

"The bill enjoys the support of the entire members of the county assembly, and members of the public will unanimously endorse it through public participation that will commence soon after its publication," said the MCA.

He said the ban on the sale, consumption, and transportation of the muguka in the five sub-counties outside Garissa town was necessary following a public outcry in the affected sub-counties.

According to the Sankuri ward representative, the muguka drug has had a significant impact on pastoralist areas outside Garissa town that were formerly devoid of addiction.

"Families were losing their livestock to wild animal attacks due to the neglect of young herders who were addicted to Muguka. The drug reached remote areas that were free from drug consumption, it was a real disaster that required an urgent intervention,” he said.

He said students in primary and secondary schools were getting lured into muguka abuse, leading to a high rate of school dropouts.

Recently, religious leaders from Garissa County had a meeting with the members of the Garissa County Assembly, urging them to fast track the bill on the ban of muguka in Garissa County.

During the meeting, the religious leaders highlighted the effects of the drug among the youth.

The speaker of the county assembly, Abdi Idle, assured that the assembly would initiate the bill seeking to ban the sale and transportation of drugs.

He also said the assembly would recommend a proposal to seek the county government's support for those involved in the miraa trade to have an alternative source of income.

He cited a programme by the Mandera County government that was targeting those engaged in miraa business and supporting an alternative small-scale business for livelihood in a bid to end the trade before a ban was imposed.

Two days ago, the High Court in Mombasa declined to lift the ban on muguka and miraa in three coastal counties.

The bans were imposed by the governors of Kilifi, Mombasa, and Taita Taveta counties.

Justice Olga Sewe said the orders sought by petitioners Peter Odhiambo Agoro and Michael Mutembei Makarina had been issued by another court.

The High Court in Embu suspended the ban imposed by governors Abdulswamad Nasir of Mombasa, Gideon Mung'aro of Kilifi and Andrew Mwadime of Taita Taveta and their governments.

The governors resorted to raise the revenue for the drugs in an escalated battle against the consumption of the herbs by teenagers.