Linturi defies bans, to set up Miraa, Muguka pricing committee

Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi is set to gazette a miraa and muguka pricing committee by the end of the week.

The committee's key mandate is to stabilise the commodity's prices.

Linturi's move comes against a backdrop of muguka bans at the coast.

He said the crop is recognised by the Constitution and does not pose any threat.

“Muguka is not harmful. We just need to put in place the right regulations that control who it is sold to and where it is sold,” Linturi said.

He urged farmers to embrace muguka's value addition, saying it is the future of the crop.

The crop received a Sh500 million boost from the President for value addition.

The boost is aimed at helping it penetrate international markets.

An ongoing research on the crop is also expected to boost its emerging international market.

“The future of muguka and miraa is in value addition. There are many prospects and a lot of money to be made.  It’s just a matter of time so farmers need to be patient,” Linturi said.

Kilifi and Mombasa counties announced a 10-day transformative activism campaign against muguka.

The campaign aims to support the proposed Amendment Bill 2024 introduced by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya that aims to remove miraa and muguka from the list of scheduled crops.

Muguka business owners continue to face challenges weeks after the Embu High Court issued an order lifting a ban on the crop until a hearing of a petition filed by Muguka traders and Embu government is heard.

The bans were imposed by Mombasa, Taita-Taveta and Kilififi counties awaiting