President William Ruto has said the ban imposed on muguka in Kilifi and Mombasa counties is null and void.
The President said muguka is a scheduled crop in accordance with the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023.
The Miraa Regulations 2023 was passed by the National Assembly and the Council of Governors in concurrence of the council of governors.
“With muguka having been recognised by national legislation, any other laws or orders that contradict national legislation is null and void,” Ruto said in a dispatch from State House.
Having been passed by parliament, Ruto said the regulations obligate the government to allocate funds for its farming, licensing, promotion, regulation, transportation, aggregation, selling, marketing and export of the crop.
The president made the remarks after meeting leaders from Embu County led by Governor Cecily Mbarire, MPs and all MCAs.
Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi was present.
Mombasa county government was the first to announce the ban on sale and distribution of muguka.
In an executive order dated May 22, Nassir said no motor vehicles carrying the products will be allowed entry into Mombasa.
In an executive order dated May 22, Nassir said henceforth no motor vehicles carrying the products will be allowed entry into Mombasa.
“...The county departments are directed to enforce this order without exception,” it read in part.
The county chief had earlier banned miraa and muguka businesses near schools.
He said school-going children should not be exposed to muguka, which is available at low cost adding that he will not negotiate on the safety and well-being of the children of Mombasa.
“If you must do the muguka business, do it in the right place. We should not expose our children to such stimulants. We want them to be involved in education and digital literacy programmes,” he said.
Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro also banned the products in his county noting it is "spoiling children".
Speaking in public forums in Malindi, the governor said it was sad to witness children as young as 10 years old consuming muguka, terming it a threat to the younger generation.