Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has now called for a public participation forum to deliberate the ban of Muguka in the County.
Speaking on Sunday, June 9, Ndeti said that Muguka had affected youth in the County while calling for the Church to help in dealing with the drug menace.
The Governor disclosed that she could not ban Muguka on her own and therefore sought the help of the citizens.
"I'm coming to you (Machakos residents) to carry out a public participation exercise on Muguka, because I cannot ban it on my own. I need to engage you in order to agree on the way forward.
"I am also counting on the help of the church to eradicate the drug menace. That's why I came up with the idea of Machakos Youth Service where we will train them and rehabilitate those addicted," she stated.
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At the same time, Muguka has ignited a national debate after Coast Governors banned the sale and distribution of the crop in the region.
However, a meeting convened at State House by President William Ruto faulted the Coast governors for the move called a stakeholder meeting.
The government committed to allocate KSh500 million in the 2024/25 Financial Year for value addition of Muguka and Miraa on the grounds that it is a legal crop in Kenya.
In a rejoinder, Coast region governors, under the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani Economic Bloc, turned down Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi’s call for a meeting to resolve the Muguka ban.
In a joint letter dated June 2, Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu, and Taita Taveta governors declined Linturi’s request claiming the CS noting that it was a health issue and not Agriculture.
“As the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, you have publicly pronounced yourself on the Constitutional and legal positions taken by Mombasa, Kilifi, and Taita County Governors to ban Muguka.
“Recognizing Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani as a consuming region with interests in both socio-economic and health security, we respectfully conclude that you are constrained in being an impartial arbiter on this subject," part of the letter read.
