Muguka farmers in parts of the Central region can breathe easy after an MP agreed to drop his bid to change the law and remove the stimulant from the list of cash crops in Kenya.
The Crops (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, had proposed that Muguka should be deleted from the Crops Act, effectively ending its recognition as a legal crop in Kenya.
According to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, in a statement on Wednesday, May 4, the lawmaker agreed to drop the bill, which was received in parliament on May 22, after a meeting between them.
"Following the request from Embu County elected leaders, met the Hon Owen Baya, sponsor of the private member’s bill that sought to delete Cathus edulis (Muguuka) from the Schedule to the Crops Act," Kindiki said."The Hon Baya has graciously agreed to drop his legislative proposal," Kindiki said.
Through the Bill, Baya wanted the Crop Act amendment to differentiate Muguka from Miraa, therefore excluding it from being recognised as a scheduled crop.
If the Bill sailed through, Muguka would have lost its status as a legally recognised crop, meaning guard rails that were erected to prevent counties from banning its trade would have been stripped.
While Muguka remains a key source of livelihood in parts of Central Kenya, some regions, especially the coastal regions, have always called for stricter restrictions on the sale of the crop, which is linked to several health problems, especially oral and gastrointestinal problems.
In mid last year, May 2024, Mombasa and Kilifi county governments had completely banned the sale of the products, while others, such as Kwale County, had erected high levies to discourage its trade.
Days after its ban in the counties, President William Ruto slammed the county governments for attempting to ban the product, stressing that Muguka will be recognised under national law and must be treated accordingly.
Ruto further confirmed that Muguka was a scheduled crop and noted that Ksh500 million had been allocated towards its farming in the 2024/2025 Financial Year.
"I have held a productive meeting with the leaders of Embu County on the recent ban on muguka. We have agreed that miraa/muguka being a scheduled crop, a meeting will be convened to discuss the issue," Ruto stated.
During his meeting today, Kindiki further revealed that he had met the Embu Governor, Cecily Mbarire, and Embu County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Muriithi to deliberate on the protection of the product and other crops such as tea, coffee, and macadamia.
"Following last evening’s meeting with the Senator and Members of Parliament from Embu County, this morning I met Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and the County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Muriithi to discuss the status of national government projects in the area and interventions to protect key agricultural value chains including tea, coffee, macadamia and cathus edulis (Muguuka)," Kindiki said.
