The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
Muguka farmers and traders from the Mt Kenya region are opposing a proposed bill in Parliament that seeks to remove the crop from the list of scheduled crops and introduce tighter controls on its production and sale.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
The Crops (Amendment) Bill, introduced in May 2023 by Kilifi MP Owen Baya, aims to amend the Crops Act, 2022, by classifying muguka as a narcotic due to its high levels of cathinone and cathine—substances known for their stimulant and psychoactive effects, which have been linked to mental health issues.
While the bill has received backing from some leaders in the coastal region, farmers and traders warn it threatens their livelihoods.
Samuel Chomba, a trader from Kirinyaga County, described the bill as an act of “economic sabotage,” saying thousands of people rely on muguka for their income.
“Muguka plays a key role in our economy and helps us support our families. Many in Kirinyaga have adopted it as their main cash crop, using proceeds to educate their children,” Chomba said, warning that if the bill passes, many families will lose their only source of income.
Scheduled crops, such as tea, coffee, sugar cane, and cotton, are considered critical to Kenya’s economic development and are subject to government oversight on production, processing, marketing, and sustainability.
Farmers dismissed claims that muguka causes infertility, pointing out that it has been consumed for generations with no such effects.
Chomba urged President William Ruto to uphold his commitment to support small-scale farmers and traders, adding, “We hope our MPs will reject this bill because its passage would impoverish many of us.”
In Embu County, another major muguka-producing area, farmers described the bill as ill-conceived. Rather than criminalizing the crop, they say the government should help them expand their market access.
Leonard Muthende from Mbeere North expressed concern that with their MP recently appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, locals may lack strong representation in Parliament during debate on the bill.
Embu County produces about 36,000 kilos of muguka daily, much of which is sold in the coastal region, generating around Sh10.8 million per day. The crop fetches between Sh300 and Sh1,000 per kilo, often surpassing traditional crops like tea and coffee in profitability.
Kathuri Nganjire added that any crop generating such income deserves more support from both national and county governments, noting that the sector employs thousands across the country.
“Disrupting such a vital industry will negatively affect the national economy and deprive many families of their income,” he said.
In 2023, the government introduced the Crops (Miraa) Regulations, allowing the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary to impose a 2% levy on exports and a 4% levy on imports of miraa and related products.
However, leaders from muguka and miraa-producing counties criticized the move, saying they were not consulted during the drafting process.
