Coast region governors, under the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani Economic Bloc, on Monday, turned down Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi’s call for a meeting to resolve the Muguka ban.
In a joint letter dated June 2, Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta governors declined Linturi’s request claiming the CS would not be a neutral arbitrator on the contentious issue.
While referencing the CS’s previous sentiments on the ban of Muguka, the governors claimed Linturi had already pronounced his stand on the matter and that the meeting would not achieve its intended purpose.
“As the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, you have publicly pronounced yourself on the Constitutional and legal positions taken by Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita County Governors to ban Muguka,” read part of the letter.
“Recognizing Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani as a consuming region with interests in both socio-economic and health security, we respectfully conclude that you are constrained in being an impartial arbiter on this subject.”
Following their decision on Linturi's request, the governors demanded that the planned meeting be convened by President William Ruto and not the Agriculture CS.
The governors also demanded the inclusion of key stakeholders such as officials from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) and the Ministry of Health.
They also proposed the participation of various security agencies as well as Civil Society in the planned meeting, since the matter was not just agricultural in nature.
According to the governors, the sale of Muguka in the coastal region had negatively impacted them health-wise, in terms of security as well as economically.
"It is critical that this discussion puts the global picture in perspective," the governors noted.
The leaders further noted that owing to the relatively short harvest time of Muguka compared to Miraa, the cheap cost makes the drug easily accessible to minors.
"We request and invite your support towards a consultative meeting with the head of State to include the Cabinet Secretaries of Health, Internal Security and Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet."
