Traders clash with county officials over Mombasa muguka ban
Muguka transporters have been forced to pitch camp at the Bonje Cess collection point after Mombasa County officials continued implementing the leaf stimulant ban.
Trucks and other vehicles transporting muguka were barred from entering the coastal city, prompting them to engage the Mombasa Traffic Unit officers in an ugly confrontation on Wednesday May 29, 2024.
It started with a mere exchange of words before the traders started engaging the county officials in a near fistfight. Despite President William Ruto’s directive, the traders who had parked their vehicles loaded with muguka protested the entry ban order.
They squared out for some time before the lorries carrying muguka were recorded driving past the cess collection centre in the Bonje area where traffic was building up due to the disagreement.
The county officials were implementing the no-entry ban after Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir insisted that he was ready to face the political risk associated with his order.
“If you want to know, some people have called this a political risk, this is a political risk, I would rather face that,” he stated.
Nassir further defended his decision arguing that muguka has long ravaging effects on future generations.
Elsewhere, Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro’s administration seized and burned over 80 bags of muguka in the county on Tuesday May 28, 2024.
Court order on muguka
The implementation of the no-entry order on the stimulant in Mombasa comes a day after Embu High Court Judge Lucy Njuguna temporarily suspended the ban effected by the coastal counties including Kilifi and Taita Taveta.
On Tuesday, May 29, 2024, the High Court noted that the conservatory orders will last until July 8, 2024, when the application will be heard inter parte.
“After perusing annexed documents and relevant articles of the constitution in support of the petition, the court is satisfied that the applicants deserve to be granted conservatory orders at this preliminary stage,” the judge ruled.
Ruto’s phonecall to coastal governors
At the same time, Ruto conversed with the coastal governors over the muguka ban issue. In a statement, the Head of State revealed that he had engaged the disputing parties and they had reached a consensus to attend the discussion chaired by the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi this week.
“I have engaged the governors of Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita-Taveta counties on their concerns and challenges in the sale of muguka. Governors Nassir(Mombasa), Gideon Mungaro (Kilifi) and Governor Mwadime(Taita-Taveta) have agreed to participate in a meeting of all stakeholders to be convened by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock this week as was agreed with the leadership of Embu County on Monday,” Ruto stated.
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