Stage-Managed? - Kenyans Question as MP Agrees to Drop Anti-Muguka Bill After Meeting Kindiki

Kilifi North Member of Parliament Owen Baya’s decision to withdraw the controversial Crops (Amendment) Bill has sparked widespread reactions online.

In a statement on Wednesday, June 4, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the UDA MP has agreed to drop the bill, which sought to delist Muguka from the list of scheduled crops.

“Following the request from Embu County elected leaders, met the Hon Owen Baya, sponsor of the private member’s bill that sought to delete Cathus edulis (Muguuka) from the Schedule to the Crops Act. The Hon Baya has graciously accepted to drop his legislative proposal,” DP Kindiki stated.

The bill, sponsored by Owen Baya, aimed to amend the Crops Act, Cap 318, by distinguishing muguka from miraa and explicitly excluding muguka from the list of scheduled crops.

It also sought to classify muguka as a narcotic, citing studies that show it contains high levels of cathinone and cathine.

This is the second time Baya has withdrawn a bill against Muguka.

In July 2024, the Kilifi North MP filed a notice to the National Assembly seeking to reclassify Muguka.

He argued that the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act 2022 had classified muguka and miraa as psychotropic substances.

The Senate Deputy Leader of the Majority later withdrew the bill before he reintroduced it again in May 2025. 

His latest move to withdraw the controversial bill sparked reactions online, with netizens questioning whether the government had orchestrated the entire move to gain sympathy votes from the Mt. Kenya East region.

However, a section of social media users praised DP Kindiki for convincing MP Baya to withdraw the bill. 

Below are some of the reactions from Kenyans after the announcement.