After a call from President William Ruto, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir agreed to suspend his county's ban on the sale and distribution of muguka.
The Governor, who other leaders flanked during an address to the press, revealed that he was open to meeting the Head of State and leaders from Embu County to streamline regulations governing the trade of Muguka.
Nassir, however, challenged the President and other leaders to employ similar tenacity in dealing with the abuse of Muguka as used in threatening him.
On Wednesday, the governor was convinced that a visit from authorities seeking to auction his radio station, Radio Rahma, was a direct reaction to his choice to ban the addictive stimulant.
We have uplifted the ban in respect to the court order but I would like to ask the government to also put the same energy that is used to fight us in fighting hard drugs in our region,” he stated.
Earlier, Nassir revealed that he had been disappointed after receiving threats from other governors shortly after banning Muguka.
The governor further justified that his decision to ban Muguka was informed by realisation that a majority of the youth in rehabilitation centers were recovering from abusing Muguka.
He noted that the abuse had gone a notch higher since Miraa retailed at a higher price leaving Muguka as the most readily available option.
Likoni Member of Parliament Mishi Mboko, who was present during the address, challenged President William Ruto to consider Muguka's effect on school children before lifting the ban.
So far, three counties including Mombasa, Kilifi, and Taita Taveta, have banned the consumption of the stimulant before the court temporarily suspended the ban on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Nassir stopped a raid at his radio station, Radio Rahma, over alleged tax arrears.
A video circulating online showed the Governor standing up to the authorities whom he claimed had raided the station without giving a notice to the management.
“You came here, and everyone I have talked to is saying that they are not aware of the arrears, I think you have been sent to harass us," the governor stated.
“If you have been sent here to harass us, we will take this matter even further, if this has been occasioned by the ban on Muguka, you will not intimidate us."
