Governor Cecily Mbarire of Embu County has launched a fierce defence of muguka, a popular stimulant derived from the khat plant, as a proposed bill seeks to strip it from the country’s list of scheduled crops.

The Anti-Muguka Bill, sponsored by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, intends to permanently delete muguka from the list of scheduled crops under Kenya’s Crops Act 2013, effectively eliminating its government protections and support in all its production and supply chains.

Unlike miraa, another variant of khat (Catha edulis), if the bill goes through, muguka would lose its legal status, exposing farmers and traders to regulatory uncertainty and ban of trade.

Mbarire, speaking at a rally in Mbeere South Constituency, called the bill discriminatory and accused its proponents of targeting Embu’s economy with “malice”.

“Muguka and miraa come from the same plant. Singling out one for a ban is unfair and threatens the survival of our farmers,” Mbarire said. She estimates that muguka generates KSh22 billion annually for the county, supporting 65,000 farmers and a network of traders and transporters.

The governor challenged claims that it causes addiction and mental health issues, demanding independent research by the government to evaluate its effects and settle the debate.

“As far as we are concerned, muguka is a good crop because no research has been done to state otherwise,” she said.

She added, “We ask the President not to be embarrassed to stand with us on this issue, because we know it is a good crop.”

The bill has sparked outrage among other Embu political leaders, with Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji and local representatives from muguka-growing areas in Mbeere North and South joining Mbarire in condemning the proposal.

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