Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has said that 30 per cent of consumers of muguka are children as he pushes for the total ban on the stimulant.
Speaking to a local TV station on Thursday, June 6, 2024, Governor Nassir revealed alarming statistics about the drug’s impact on the youth.
“Ivi sasa tunavyoongea, asilimia 30 ya watu wanaotumia muguka, ni watoto. Wale ambao wana umri wa miaka kumi na nane, tisa walianza kutumia mugaka wakiwa wadogo zaidi. Idadi inazidi kuongezeka,” Nassir noted.
Loosely translated as;
“As we speak now, 30 per cent of muguka users are children. Those who are eighteen years old started using muguka when they were even younger. The number keeps increasing.”
Nassir’s remarks come as he advocates for a total ban on muguka, stressing the need to protect children from the harmful effects of the drug.
“Leo nimepokea simu kutoka hospitali yetu Coast General kwamba kuna kijana amedungwa kisu na wale ambao walimdunga midomo imejaa muguka. Muguka ambayo imepitishwa kwa njia za panya route,” Nassir added.
Loosely translated as;
“Today, I received a call from our Coast General Hospital that a young man had been stabbed, and those who stabbed him had mouths full of muguka. Muguka that had been smuggled in through illegal routes.”
Ban on Muguka
Nassir’s sentiments come days after an Embu court issued conservatory orders halting the muguka ban in Mombasa.
Justice Lucy Njuguna issued orders in response to a petition from Kutherema Muguka Sacco, the Embu County Assembly, farmer Benjamin Njeru Joshua, and the Embu County Government. They sought judicial intervention to halt the enforcement of a controversial ban, arguing that it would have severe negative impacts on Muguka farmers and traders.
In her ruling, Justice Njuguna stated that the ban would remain suspended until all parties involved could agree. This decision provides temporary relief to Muguka farmers and traders, who had already begun experiencing the adverse effects of the ban.
On May 31, 2024, Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani expressed her dissatisfaction with President William Ruto regarding his decision on the stimulant.
During an appearance on Msenangu FM’s morning show, Achani criticized Ruto for partially lifting bans on Muguka in Kilifi and Mombasa counties without involving local leaders.
“Despite being elected on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, I am disappointed with President Ruto’s decision on Muguka because we were not consulted,” Achani stated.
Achani acknowledged the challenges in enforcing the bans along the coast, explaining that if enforcement officers arrested individuals for selling Muguka, it was unclear which court would handle such cases and under what law they would be prosecuted.
This criticism follows pressure from coastal political leaders urging Governor Achani to implement a similar ban on the stimulant, which has been a contentious issue recently.
Furthermore, Achani called on President Ruto to engage with coastal leaders to develop a balanced perspective and decision on the matter.
“Kenyans made a mistake in classifying muguka as a cash crop; it needs to be declassified,” Achani remarked.
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