Editor's Review

The government has committed to allocate KSh500 million for the value addition of Muguka. 

President William Ruto on Monday, May 27 evening met the leadership of Embu County following Muguka ban in Mombasa and Kilifi Counties. 

The Embu leadership was led by Governor Cecily Mbarire, who was accompanied by the deputy governor, the senator, the women representative, Members of the National Assembly, and all Members of the County Assembly.

Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, who was also present in the meeting, said that Mũgũka, a variety of Miraa, is a scheduled crop in accordance with the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023. 

"With Mũgũka having been recognised by national legislation, any other laws or order that contradicts national legislation is 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," part of the statement by State House read. 

File Image of Gideon M. Mung'aro.

According to the statement, having been passed by Parliament, the regulations obligate the Government to allocate funds for the farming, licencing, promotion, regulation, transportation, aggregation, selling, marketing, and export of the crop.

The government committed to allocate KSh500 million in the 2024/25 Financial Year for value addition of these scheduled crops.

This comes days after Governors Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir and Gideon Mung'aro banned Muguka in their respective Counties. 

“In exercise of the powers conferred in Section 30(2)(1) of the County Government Act and all other enabling laws of Kenya, I, Gideon Maitha Mung’aro, Governor of Kilifi County, hereby order and direct that there be a total prohibition of the entry, transportation, sale, and use of muguka and its products within the county”, Mung’aro said while announcing the ban.