A new report on the state of drugs and substance use in
universities has revealed a troubling increase in use of muguka and miraa by
students.
According to the findings, approximately 10 per cent of
students in both public and private universities are using these substances,
with muguka, the cheaper and more potent variety, becoming increasingly
popular.
National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA)
Director Research, Standards and Licensing John Muteti while sounding alarm,
stated that more students are getting addicted to this substance.
He said they are continuously admitting them to
rehabilitation centres something that is making it expensive for them.
“Mugaka is cheaper, with Sh50 you get it very quickly,” said
Muteti.
In contrast, miraa, a more expensive version that includes
both the leaves and stems of the plant, is mostly consumed by affluent
students.
Muguka is a low-cost, highly addictive variant of khat
(Catha edulis) grown in Embu, Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties in central Kenya.
Derived from the same plant, muguka consists of the leaves
while the pricier version, miraa, includes the stems and the leaves.
Apart from it being cheaper, it is also more potent and
addictive and popular in the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kilifi, Taita Taveta
and Kwale.
The report surveyed 15,678 respondents, with a nearly perfect
response rate of 99.7 per cent.
The majority of respondents were undergraduate students from
public universities (61.5 per cent), followed by those from private institutions
(38.5 per cent).
Students in their first year (26.9 per cent), second year (24.3 per cent),
third year (23.8 per cent), and fourth year (24.2 per cent) were represented in the study.
Interestingly, the primary source of the drugs was peer
influence, with 66 per cent of students citing friends as the main suppliers.
Other sources included canteens, bars, and nearby premises
(59.3 per cent), fellow students (56 per cent), and online platforms, such as websites and
social media (39.4 per cent).
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen officially
launched the report.
