Kwale residents want Governor Fatuma Achani to ban muguka

A section of Kwale residents have called on their governor, Fatuma Acahani, to ban the sale and consumption of muguka in the county. 

The locals who spoke to The Eastleigh Voice lamented that the stimulants have contributed to a lot of decay in morality, crime, and minors dropping out of school.

They applauded Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir for declaring a total prohibition on the entry, transportation, distribution, sale, and use of Muguka and its products within his county and asked Governor Fatuma to emulate him.

Mwanajuma Hamisi, a resident, said the availability of the stimulants has led minors to crime.

"They start by stealing from home to quench their addiction before they graduate to panga boys who are causing havoc in the county," she said.

Mwanajuma added that the youth also engage in fights, which lead to injuries and the loss of lives.

"Over the weekend in Kirudi, we had an incident where a young man lost his life after a group of rowdy boys who were high on muguka stormed a wedding ceremony, cutting people with machetes," she said.

Kwale resident, Nyamawi Ndenje, speaks at Mwereni social hall during the public participation forum for the Financial Bill, 2024, in May 2024. 

Another resident, Juma Abdallah, said muguka should be abolished because it only pushes youth to consume hard drugs.

"They start with muguka before they transition to drugs like heroin and cocaine. The government should start its fight with muguka before moving on to others," Juma urged. 

He claimed that apart from the mental and social harm, muguka has contributed to road accidents as some motorists drive while chewing, hindering them from concentrating fully on the road.

At the public participation forum on the 2024 Finance Bill, the attendees proposed that the government increase the cess fee from Sh10,000 per lorry to Sh100,000 to discourage minors from using it.

The five wards that issued their proposal were Mwereni, Mwavumbo, Tsimba, Golini, and Kubo South.

In Mwereni Ward, the Chair of the Budget Committee of the County Assembly, Manza Beja, led the forum.

Defending their proposal, the residents said the stimulants are common among minors and youth because of their affordability.

"If the cess fee is increased, then only the working class will be able to afford it. At the moment, a person can get muguka for as little as Sh 20. The government needs to introduce measures to minimise its usage," said Nyamawi Ndenje of Mwereni ward.

His sentiments were supported by Philip Mabuti and Harbert Kutsonga, who said that if not regulated, the fertility rate of the region might reduce drastically in the coming years.

Participants from Mwereni ward present their ideas during a public participation forum on Finance Bill 2024 in May 2024. 

Mombasa and Meru counties 

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir, on May 22, prohibited the entry, transportation, distribution, sale, and use of muguka and its products within Mombasa. 

He argued that the scientific evidence has unequivocally established that muguka consumption causes mental health disease and disability, leads to devastating health, social, economic, and environmental consequences, and places burdens on minors, families, the poor, and county health systems.

All outlets, whether in retail or wholesale, selling and distributing muguka within Mombasa County were ordered to close immediately and stop the sale of the products.

"Motor vehicles transporting muguka shall not be allowed entry into Mombasa County and the county departments are directed to enforce this order without exception," Governor Abdulswamad ordered. 

Abdulswamad and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire met this week and pledged to work with their county assemblies to pass local legislation to regulate the trade of miraa and muguka. 

The two governors agreed to increase cess fees, with Mombasa settling on a record Sh80,000 per lorry per day to deter the sale of the stimulants by making them expensive.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and his Embu counterpart, Cecily Mbarire, hold a press briefing in Mombasa on May 14, 2024, on the controlled consumption of miraa and muguka. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein/EV)