Kilifi Governor Mung’aro has banned the entry, transportation, distribution, sale, and use of Muguka within the county.
The directive follows a similar order issued by his Mombasa counterpart, Abdulswamad Nassir, which also mandates the closure of all muguka outlets in the county.
“In exercise of powers conferred in Section 30(2)(1) of the County Government Act and all other enabling laws of Kenya, I, Gideon Maitha Mung’aro, Governor of Kilifi County, hereby order and direct as that there be a total prohibition on the entry, transportation, distribution, sale, and use of muguka and its products within Kilifi County,” Governor Mung’aro said in a statement.
“All outlets, whether in the form of retail or wholesale, selling and/or distributing muguka within Kilifi County be closed immediately and/or stop the sale of muguka and its products.”
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Governor Mung’aro further mandated that motor vehicles transporting muguka will be denied entry into the county.
He instructed multi-agency bodies to take immediate action to enforce this order and warned that any officers found colluding with violators would face legal consequences.
“County departments and their agencies are directed to enforce this order without exception. In light of the above order, I therefore, with immediate effect, issue a directive to all the Kilifi County enforcement officers through the Directorate of Enforcement to ensure the order is enforced in totality,” Governor Mung’aro stated.
“Any officer found colluding with culprits will face the law and all the disciplinary actions there are.”
On Thursday, Governor Nassir announced the ban, stressing the widespread consumption of the stimulant drug along the Coast, including among school-going children.
Nassir stated that Muguka traders have disregarded laws designed to protect children from the drug’s influence, with some even selling it to minors.
“We have tried to come up with regulations so that users and the larger community can co-exist but they have refused and for this reason, I have consulted legally and found my decree to be in order,” said Nassir.
“I have signed an executive order to ban the entry of muguka into Mombasa and to ban the sale and consumption of muguka in Mombasa.”
His remarks followed persistent advocacy from women leaders who had been calling for the ban of muguka and the regulation of miraa due to the drugs’ harmful effects on young people’s health.
